Radical or Just Rude?

The story: They agreed to foster a culture of open, honest feedback. He was on board — radical candor all the way. Then he told her in the corridor that her presentation was a total disaster. She said radical, yes... but not helpful at all. He had the permission. He skipped the craft. They'd agreed on the value of honesty but never on what good feedback actually looked like.

What it means for organisations: "Honest feedback culture" is one of the most frequently declared and least defined commitments in organisations. Honesty without structure is just unfiltered opinion. When teams agree to be more candid without agreeing on what useful feedback looks like — specific, timely, actionable, delivered with care — they don't create a feedback culture. They create a justification for bluntness.