Fall 2022
Tell It Like It Is and They Will Know That You Care
CareerZOT Talk by Kathy Seaton
The culture of the organization has been
irrevocably changed in the post-pandemic era.
As we re-group and reinvent our businesses,
we need to realize that our staff wants more
– more transparency, more involvement,
more control, and certainly a better career
path and work environment.
One of the most important rebuilding
strategies is to employ the Radical Candor
principle. Coined by management guru Kim
Scott, radical candor is the ability to challenge
directly and show that you care personally at
the same time.
Being candid and giving feedback is tough.
And it’s tough because we carry a sense of
guilt in giving direction that might come off
harsh or insulting.
However, if employed carefully, radical candor
will help you, your peers, and your employees
do the best work of their lives and build
trusted relationships within the organization
and throughout their careers. To give praise
and criticism effectively, you really must care
personally about the individual.
Here are three ways to start the process:
- Make it a priority for you to get feedback
from others.
Set an example that you welcome
feedback and suggestions. And importantly,
that you listen and move in a direction that
proves that you’ve adjusted accordingly based
on the feedback.
- Give feedback to others.
Provide feedback to
help employees execute their jobs better and
help them feel like you care and are willing to
create mobility for them in the organization.
This will certainly build trust among your
employees.
- Encourage peer-to-peer feedback.
Teamwork
has become essential as we return to a more
normalized work environment. Working in
teams is essential for innovation, creativity,
and ingenuity. However, peers need to feel
empowered to challenge their teammates to
produce the right results, at the right time.
So, commit to this new journey and way of
communicating. And be honest and admit to
others that you haven’t been candid enough
but that you are going to start saying what you
think a lot more clearly because you care about
the lives and careers of others.
Read more at CareerZOT.