Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

by Kim Malone Scott

three areas of responsibility that managers do have: guidance, team-building, and results.

“It’s not mean, it’s clear!”

Ruinous Empathy is responsible for the vast majority of management mistakes I’ve seen in my career. Most people want to avoid creating tension or discomfort at work. They are like the well-meaning parent who cannot bear to discipline their kids. They are like me with my dog Belvy.

Those who find work they can continue to love for five or ten or thirty years, even if it doesn’t lead to some sort of advancement, are damn lucky.

“It is only by selection, by elimination, and by emphasis that we get at the real meaning of things.” —GEORGIA O’KEEFFE