Radical Candor
Care personally, challenge directly—give kind, clear feedback.
Explanation
Former Google and Apple executive Kim Scott identified why most feedback fails: it's either too soft to be useful (ruinous empathy) or too harsh to be received well (obnoxious aggression). Radical candor means genuinely caring about someone as a person while also being willing to challenge them directly about their work. Both elements are essential.
Real-World Example
Ruinous empathy: 'Great job!' (when it wasn't). Obnoxious aggression: 'That sucked.' Manipulative insincerity: Says nothing. Radical candor: 'I care about your success. That presentation missed the mark because of X. Let's work on it together.'
How to Apply
Build care first: Know their life, goals, challenges. Then challenge: Be specific, timely, and sincere. Focus on behavior, not person. 'When you do X, Y happens' not 'You are X.' Make it a dialogue. Ask: 'What's your perspective?' End with support: 'How can I help?'