2021 HITS: A Culture of Candor with Linwood Paul & Matt D’Amour of Subtle Distinctions

Written By Modern Species

We're re-running our most successful episodes of 2021 because there are some episodes that we just have to go back to.

This time, we speak about candor, positive culture, and how to build stronger teams with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour, co-founders of Subtle Distinctions. We leave you with the episode notes:

Candor isn’t just a word; it’s a practice. By using candor you can create 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. 

To practice it effectively, we must first consider what it is in concept. In short, Linwood and Matt tell us that candor is truth, honesty, and a foundation of high professional and personal integrity. Following this, both Linwood and Matt add a great amount of detail to the concept, touching on Kim Scott’s model of radical candor. Then, they walk us through oversharing, speaking our truth, and how to communicate truth by sticking to fact. Linwood and Matt take time to consider how compliments oftentimes don’t mesh well with critique and observation and go on to share which words and phrases work well when practicing candor. 

Consider joining us today and you might leave the show with newfound knowledge and skill that could help strengthen your business and relationships.

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 to you know where the line is of oversharing.

  • The nuances that come with sharing 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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