In this episode of @TheScienceofLeadership , Tom Collins welcomes Dr. Kate Smith, Senior Associate Dean of Biology Education and Professor of Medical Science at Brown University, to delve into the powerful concept of Radical Candor.

Dr. Smith explains that Radical Candor, as defined by Kim Scott, is about "how to say what you mean without being mean". It requires both caring personally and challenging directly. The conversation explores the pitfalls of leadership communication when Radical Candor is absent, identifying three common traps:

🔸Obnoxious Aggression: Challenging directly without personal care, leading to feelings of attack and disregarded criticism.

🔸Manipulative Insincerity: Offering insincere praise or talking negatively behind someone's back, which creates toxic workplaces.

🔸Ruinous Empathy: Protecting short-term feelings by avoiding direct feedback, often leading to regrettable mistakes and unaddressed poor performance.

Dr. Smith shares a personal anecdote demonstrating the immediate and positive impact of Radical Candor, highlighting its real-time, direct, and empathetic nature. They discuss how setting clear expectations for communication within a team fosters a culture where feedback is received more effectively.

The episode also touches upon the scientific backing for Radical Candor's components, such as transparency fostering psychological safety and collaboration , and empathy leading to higher job satisfaction, innovation, and performance. Dr. Smith emphasizes that Radical Candor isn't just for criticism; it's equally vital for delivering genuine, in-the-moment praise.

Ultimately, the discussion underscores that practicing Radical Candor builds trust, deepens connections, and increases efficiency, contributing not only to better leadership but to a better life overall. Tom and Dr. Smith even introduce the complementary concept of "Radical Curiosity" as a way for leaders to gain deeper understanding before offering feedback.

To learn more about the science of leadership, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/

References

Bennis, W., Goleman, D. & O’Toole, J. (2008). Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor. Jossey-Bass.

Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999

Edmondson, A. C. (2018). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. John Wiley & Sons.

Kock, N., Mayfield, M., Mayfield, J., Sexton, S. & Garza, L. M. D. L. (2019). Empathetic Leadership: How Leader Emotional Support and Understanding Influences Follower Performance. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 26(2), 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051818806290

Scott, K. (2015). Radical Candor: How to Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. St. Martin’s Press.

Vich, M. & Kim, M. Y. (2016). Construction and Application of Radical Candor: Efficiency of Criticism at Work. Central European Business Review, 5(4), 11–22.

In this episode of The Science of Leadership, host Tom Collins welcomes Matt Abrahams, a strategic communication lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, author, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. They dive deep into the concept of strategic communication, which Matt defines as the application of clear goals and purpose to our communication, whether handling a crisis or propagating a message throughout an organization.

Key ideas discussed include:

• Communication as Operationalized Leadership: Matt shares that communication is "operationalized leadership," meaning leaders lead through how they communicate.
• The Biggest Mistake in Strategic Communication: A critical mistake leaders often make is not involving communication early enough in their processes, viewing it as an afterthought rather than an integral part of problem-solving or opportunity seizing.
• Audience-Centric Communication: Effective communication is not about what you say, but "what they hear". It's crucial to understand your audience's position, orientation, and values, then tailor your message to ensure they receive the intended meaning.
• Improving Communication Skills: Matt provides practical tips for enhancing strategic communication, emphasizing three essential methods for improvement: repetition, reflection, and feedback.
• The "Must-Have" of Strategic Communication: Beyond understanding your audience, the second most important aspect is having a clear, goal-directed message. A clear goal has three parts:
  • What you want the audience to know (information).
  • How you want them to feel (emotion).
  • What you want them to do (action).
• The Value of Communication Training: Investing in formal communication training is vital for leadership success, a practice exemplified by top military leaders.

To learn more about Matt Abrahams' work, visit his website at https://www.fastersmarter.io/ and check out his podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn.

If you want to learn more about The Science of Leadership, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/

References

Abrahams, M. (2016). Speaking Up Without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting, 3rd ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Abrahams, M. (2023). Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot. Simon Element.

Join Tom Collins on this episode of @TheScienceofLeadership as he welcomes Dr. David Ulrich, a leading authority on leadership and human resource development, and co-founder of the RBL Group.

Dr. Ulrich, author of over 30 books, including The Leadership Code, shares insights into the essential framework for leadership effectiveness, outlining its five key rules: strategy, execution, managing talent, building the future, and personal proficiency.

Discover how these timeless principles, from knowing where you're going and making progress to nurturing your people and investing in the next generation, form the "DNA code" of leadership. Dr. Ulrich and Tom delve into the importance of a leader's aspiration in an uncertain world, and how fostering an environment where individuals feel better about themselves after an interaction is a crucial test of leadership.

They explore the concept of "leadership brand," emphasizing the critical link between internal leadership actions and external customer promises, highlighting that true value creation extends beyond just shareholder returns to encompass all stakeholders.

This episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone seeking to cultivate not just effective leadership, but a truly meaningful life.

Key References:

Carnegie, D. (1948). How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Simon & Schuster.

Carnegie, D. (1937). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Simon & Schuster.

Ulrich, D., & Smallwood, N. (2007). Leadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Drive Performance and Build Lasting Value. Harvard Business Review Press.

Ulrich, D., Smallwood, N., & Sweetman, K. (2008). The Leadership Code: Five Rules to Lead By. Harvard Business Press.

Ulrich, D., & Ulrich, W. (2010). The Why of Work. McGraw Hill.

To dive deeper into the science behind exceptional leadership and gain more valuable insights, visit https://www.fourstarleaders.com/ today!