A Culture of Candor with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour of Subtle Distinctions

Written By Modern Species

Listen to this episode from Evolve CPG - Better Products, Brands, & Leaders on Spotify. Candor isn't just a word; it's a practice. By using candor you can create a positive culture and build stronger teams in business. Today we talk with the co-founders of Subtle Distinctions and find out how we can use candor in the workplace.

Candor isn’t just a word; it’s a practice that can promote a positive company culture and build stronger teams.

Our guests, Linwood and Matt, are the co-founders of Subtle Distinctions where they cultivate thoughtful leaders from the inside out. In this episode, they break down the concept of candor and how to effectively use it in the workplace and our personal lives. You’ll walk away with actionable tips and some new additions to your reading list—like Kim Scott’s Radical Candor.

Key Points From This Episode:

  • How leaders should approach candor.

  • First, we need to conceptualize candor to be able to use it.

  • Using the model of radical candor to decide how candor can be and should be used.

  • Matt tells us what is, and what isn’t candor.

  • How do you know where the line is of oversharing.

  • The nuances that come with sharing the truth.

  • How to put your truth across in a way that it will be taken well.

  • Different terms and words to use when approaching someone with facts and concerns.

  • The danger of sharing compliments when sharing truth.

  • Comparing compliments to smoke.

  • Matt and Linwood roleplay a conversation where they share their truths with each other.

  • Hear more on Marshall Rosenberg and Kim Scott.

  • The best way to start practicing candor.

Tweetables:

“Candor is truthful and honest, as well as a foundation for high professional and personal integrity.” — Linwood Paul [0:02:28]

 “Radical candor is the act of sharing directly and caring personally about another person. It’s being direct, frank, outspoken, kind.” — Linwood Paul [0:06:15]

 “Candor can’t be used to manipulate, infer aggression, or anything like that. You can’t hurt people just because you want to speak your truth. You cannot be manipulative.” — Matt D’Amour [0:08:49]

 “In business, it’s a good thing to figure out how much truth your people can and cannot handle.” — Linwood Paul [0:11:37]

 “We talk about the blocks to active listening — and that is really understanding the filters and the framework in which we are receiving information and giving information.” — Matt D’Amour [0:17:16]

 “When people share compliments, that’s when the red flags go up.” — Matt D’Amour [0:26:55]

 “Candor is a way people can know how they’re doing.” — Linwood Paul [0:37:34]

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Modern Species

A sustainable brand design agency helping better-for-the-world brand launch, evolve, and grow to scale their impact.

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