How to Give Feedback That People Actually Listen To (The ‘Radical Candour’ Approach)

Providing feedback is arguably the most difficult aspect of management. Many leaders dread the process, fearing that honest critique will demotivate their team or damage personal relationships. As a result, they often resort to silence or sugar-coated advice that fails to address the core issues. However, feedback is the engine of growth, and without it, teams stagnate.

The solution lies not in being harsher, but in being more authentic. ‘Radical Candour,’ a framework developed by Kim Scott, argues that you can—and must—challenge your employees directly while simultaneously caring about them personally. By mastering this balance, managers can build a culture of trust where feedback is welcomed rather than feared.

The High Cost of Ambiguity in Leadership

When managers fail to provide clear feedback, the consequences ripple throughout the entire organisation. Ambiguity breeds confusion, and when expectations are not explicitly stated, employees are left guessing how to succeed. This lack of clarity often leads to repeated mistakes and a gradual erosion of team morale.

In fast-paced industries where precision is paramount, there is simply no room for vague communication. Consider the highly regulated world of iGaming, where platforms like https://fortunica-casino-uk.co.uk/ must outline terms, conditions, and game rules with absolute clarity to ensure fairness and compliance. If a user misunderstands a rule due to poor communication, trust is instantly lost. Similarly, in a corporate setting, if a leader’s feedback is open to interpretation, the employee cannot correct their course, leading to frustration on both sides.

Understanding the Core of Radical Candour

Radical Candour is often misunderstood as a license to be brutal. In reality, it is a specific methodology built on two fundamental dimensions: Caring Personally and Challenging Directly. To practice it effectively, you must understand how these two elements interact.

A leader cannot simply critique work without establishing a foundation of empathy. Conversely, empathy without honest critique is merely avoiding the hard work of management.

The Dimension of ‘Care Personally’

Caring personally means viewing your employees as whole human beings, not just cogs in a machine. It involves understanding their ambitions, acknowledging their struggles, and genuinely wanting them to succeed. When an employee knows you have their best interests at heart, they are far more receptive to difficult conversations.

The Dimension of ‘Challenge Directly’

Challenging directly is the ability to deliver hard truths without hedging or apologising. It involves telling someone that their work is not up to par, not to hurt them, but because it is necessary for the team’s success and their own professional development.

Navigating the Feedback Quadrants

To understand where your current feedback style falls, it is helpful to look at what happens when one of the two dimensions is missing. Most managers fall into one of the “danger zones” before finding the right balance.

The following table outlines the four quadrants of feedback behaviour, helping you identify where you might be going wrong:

As the table illustrates, the goal is the top-left quadrant. Any other approach compromises either the relationship or the results.

Practical Steps to Implement Radical Candour

Moving from theory to practice requires a shift in daily habits. You cannot simply declare that you are now “Radically Candid”; you must demonstrate it through consistent action.

The implementation process should be gradual, ensuring the team understands that this shift is intended to support them, not attack them.

Setting the Stage for Honesty

Before dishing out criticism, you must invite it. Start by asking your team to give you feedback. Ask questions like, “What could I do to make your job easier?” or “Am I blocking your progress in any way?” When you accept criticism with grace, you model the behaviour you expect from them.

The H.I.P. Approach to Delivery

When it is time to give feedback, keep it focused and actionable. Use the H.I.P. acronym to ensure your message lands correctly:

• Humble: Enter the conversation with the mindset that your perspective is just that—a perspective. You might be missing context.
• Helpful: Ensure the goal is to assist the person in improving, not just to vent your frustration.
• Immediate: Do not wait for the annual performance review. Give feedback as close to the event as possible so the details are fresh.
• Private: While praise should be public, criticism should almost always be delivered in private to avoid humiliation.

Transforming Your Management Style Today

Adopting Radical Candour is not a one-time fix but a continuous practice of building relationships and maintaining high standards. It requires the courage to say what needs to be said and the empathy to say it in a way that can be heard.

Start small this week. Identify one instance where you have been holding back necessary feedback to “spare feelings” (Ruinous Empathy) and find a way to deliver it kindly but clearly. By normalising these conversations, you will build a stronger, more resilient team that is capable of genuine growth.