I was introduced to the Radical Candor framework by the wonderful Shelley Silva, People and Culture Manager at Fidelity Life. We used it recently in the Lead above the line leadership program I am currently delivering there. During the program, we have focused on the importance of empathy, but to lead people effectively we need more than that.
We need to learn how to challenge them directly while caring for them personally. This is one of the hardest and most important things to master as a leader.
All too often, we don't say anything - this is referred to as manipulative insecurity - very common in our passive-aggressive kiwi culture - only to eventually blow up and say things we later regret. On the other hand, speaking too directly without the ability to read how it's landing can cause people to withdraw and lose confidence and trust. Kim Scott, the author of Radical Candor calls this obnoxious aggression.
But our biggest pitfall as leaders is ruinous empathy. We do this because we genuinely care for our people, but we often tip either into a pleasing mode to keep the peace or a rescue mode, rather than courageously enabling people and holding them accountable to help them grow.
Radical candor is not easy to put into practice because it requires a whole lot of self-awareness, courage and vulnerability, but it's worth the effort for the sake of building strong independent thinkers and cultures steeped in trust.
You can watch a 6 min video in which Kim Scott takes you through the framework.