Skip to Content
SVB
Silicon Valley Bank
SVB Private
SVB Securities
SVB Capital
Region:
  For a better web experience - please upgrade your browser to Google Chrome  
 
Silicon Valley Bank
Products & Services
Business Banking

Complete your banking transactions with ease and security.

  • Business Checking
  • Business Credit Cards
  • Online Tools & Integration
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Lending
Global Business Solutions

Get customized services to help support your global business.

  • Global Banking Services
  • Global Payments
  • Foreign Exchange Risk Services
Liquidity Solutions

Strategize with our financial experts to help you achieve your business goals.

  • SVB Asset Management
  • Deposits & Investments
Global Fund Banking
Leverage SVB's 30+ years experience in banking top funds.
  • PE Fund Banking
  • VC Fund Banking
Our Expertise
Our Business Expertise
  • Business Stages
  • Startup Banking
  • Venture-Funded
  • Corporate Banking
  • Investors
  • Private Equity
  • Venture Capital
  • Emerging Managers
  • Corporate Venture
Industry Expertise

Our bankers have years of real-world experience to provide guidance across a number of industries.

View All Industries
  • Our Sector Knowledge
  • Cleantech and Sustainability
  • Consumer Internet
  • Enterprise Software
  • Fintech
  • Hardware & Frontier Tech
  • Investors
  • Life Science & Healthcare
  • Premium Wine Banking
Trends & Insights
Trends & Insights

SVB research, blogs and webinars to give your business crucial advantages in decision-making.

Reports Global Fund Banking Outlook Report Healthcare Investments and Exits State of the Markets Report State of the Wine Industry Report Family Office Report Venture Monitor Report View All Reports
Perspectives and Insights Foreign Exchange Advisory Business Growth Market Insights Industry Insights Private Bank Startup Insights View All Insights
SVB Webinars

Register for upcoming live webinars and access recorded webinars to learn about the latest trends for your business and industry.

View Webinars
About Us
SVB Facts

For over 35 years, SVB has helped businesses grow and thrive across the innovation economy

Living Our Values

SVB's values guide our actions, from our approach to supporting small businesses to community engagement to our ESG reporting.

Contact Us

Let SVB experts help your business with the right mix of products, services and strategic advice.

Resources
  • Locations
  • Leadership
  • Newsroom
  • Investor Relations
  • Client Support
  • Careers
  • Success Stories
  • Access to Innovation
Investor News: SVB Financial Group Announces 2022 First Quarter Financial Results Learn more  
PPP
Become a client
Login
SELECT A SERVICE FOR LOGIN
SVB Online Services
SVB Online Services Private Bank Private Banking – Legacy SVB Private Banking – Legacy Boston Private Investments SVB Capital Limited Partners SVB Asset Management Reporting U.S. Bank Pivot Credit Cards Cardholders Administrators Private Bank Elite Card
  • Need help? Client Support
  • Not a client? Apply Now
Search SVB
Products & Services Our Expertise Trends & Insights About Us PPP
Become a client
Login
Products & Services
Business Banking
Business Checking Business Credit Cards Online Tools & Integration Fraud Prevention Lending
Global Business Solutions
Global Banking Services Global Payments Foreign Exchange Risk Services
Liquidity Solutions
SVB Asset Management Deposits & Investments
Global Fund Banking
PE Fund Banking VC Fund Banking
Our Expertise
Our Business Expertise
Business Stages Startup Banking Venture-Funded Corporate Banking Investors Private Equity Venture Capital Emerging Managers Corporate Venture
Industry Expertise
Cleantech and Sustainability Consumer Internet Enterprise Software Fintech Hardware & Frontier Tech Investors Life Science & Healthcare Premium Wine Banking
Trends & Insights
Reports
Global Fund Banking Outlook Report Healthcare Investments and Exits State of the Markets Report State of the Wine Industry Report Family Office Report Venture Monitor Report View All Reports
Perspectives and Insights
Foreign Exchange Advisory Business Growth Market Insights Industry Insights Private Bank Startup Insights View All Insights
SVB Webinars

Register for upcoming live webinars and access recorded webinars to learn about the latest trends for your business and industry.

View Webinars
About Us
SVB Facts
Living Our Values
Contact Us
Resources
Locations Leadership Newsroom Investor Relations Client Support Careers Success Stories Access to Innovation
Select a Service for Login
SVB Online Services Private Bank Private Banking – Legacy SVB Private Banking – Legacy Boston Private Investments SVB Capital Limited Partners SVB Asset Management Reporting U.S. Bank Pivot Credit Cards Cardholders Administrators Private Bank Elite Card
Close
  • Select a Region
    • North America
      • US Main
        Canada (EN)
        Canada (FR)
    • Europe and Middle East
      • Israel (EN)
        United Kingdom
        Denmark
        Germany (DE)
        Germany (EN)
    • Asia
      • China (中文)
        China (EN)
Find anything about our product, search our documentation, and more. Enter a query in the search input above, and results will be displayed as you type.
Searching... Loading content
    Searching... Loading content
    People
    Article Image
    Publisher Logo
    • BUILDING A TEAM

    How to Use Radical Candor to Communicate Effectively

    • October 25, 2018
    When you challenge people with direct communication, you might be surprised at the results.

    It takes courage — and candor. And when adding some care, your listener often will take notice and be better persuaded to improve.

    In the high-pressure world of tech, it might just pay off to try it. Company leaders are finding that "radical candor" techniques can help focus their teams on the big picture, rather than on conflicts that distract from it.

    Challenging others directly, and with respect, can generate productive outcomes, says Radical Candor author Kim Scott. Her Radical Candor framework is designed to make tough conversations less difficult and more effective.

    Candor and care: The fastest route to success

    Communicate strategically by balancing two powerful forces — being direct and showing care. Practice with the small issues first so you can use this strategy to address higher-stakes conflict with more confidence and ease down the road.


    To start, take a look at the upper-right quadrant of Scott’s diagram.
    Source: Radical Candor.

     

    “Ideally, you must build an environment that is more than just professional,” says Jason Rosoff, who co-founded Radical Candor with Scott. “You must create a world in which other people know you care for them. This allows candid communication to take place.”

    When leaders communicate in a caring, yet challenging way, people often respond by taking positive action. Here are some tips for more effective workplace conversations:

    Speak clearly and directly


    The fastest way to this inflection point is to speak clearly and directly. Let’s use a simple example to illustrate how this might work: You need your team of engineers to deliver a product in time for an investor presentation. It’s imperative to meet the deadline, but you’ve received reports that some tasks are late and others are at risk. You need to talk to the manager, Mary.

    When communicating with Radical Candor, you want to start the conversation with a direct approach that shows you care and are open to feedback. This invites positive communication, and therefore sets the stage for a positive outcome. Assume the best of an employee, rather than the worst, and you’ll likely be able to discover valuable information.

    “I’ve noticed your project is running behind. I bet that’s stressful for you because I know you run a pretty tight ship. What’s happening and how can I help?”

    This approach clearly identifies the issue, and provides a safe place for Mary to acknowledge the issue and provide further detail about the help she needs.

    Beware of aggression


    It’s typical to get defensive when confronted with a difficult situation, and the default response sounds overly aggressive.

    “You’ve missed half your deadlines and all tasks for this week are at risk. The schedule is not changing and if you can’t meet it, we’ll find someone who can.”

    This statement is very direct, but obnoxious. It places too much emphasis on your own power and shows little care for Mary. Remember that the purpose of your conversation is not to have an argument that you “win,” but to help correct a course and build a relationship in the process.

    Avoid the empathy trap


    On the other hand, if your response is overwhelmingly empathetic, you’ll ruin Mary’s opportunity for direct feedback that can help her be successful.

    “I know this schedule is really tight — no one can blame you for being behind.”

    This statement expresses you know the job is hard, but fails to acknowledge the responsibility and expectations Mary has been given. You may think that avoiding candor is the kind thing to do. However, it’s not the honest or fair thing to do.

    Steer clear of insincerity


    When your interactions have too much aggression or too much empathy, it’s really easy to slip down to the bottom left quadrant where there is no caring and no challenging.

    “I’m sorry I called you out in the status meeting — I’m confident you’ll get the job done.”

    “You’re right — it’s impossible for you to meet these timelines. I’ll tell the marketing team it’s not going to work.”

    Even more problematic than any particular statement is the insincere intent of the message. You are not sorry, you don’t think Mary is right, and both of you know it.

    No matter how direct and caring you are, though, it’s also possible your conversation can go drastically awry. In this case, repeat what you heard and restate your concern.

    When others know you care, your interactions will be more productive. And if you can communicate directly, but with respect and empathy, you’ll build relationships based on trust and be able to promote positive change even when the stakes are high.

    Robert Sureck is the Senior Market Manager for Silicon Valley Bank's Southwest region.

    Building a Team

    Related Insights

    • Business Growth Executive Recruiting: Tips to bolster hiring and retain key talent Leyna O'Quinn May 2, 2022
    • Getting Started What are the three stages of a startup?
    • Getting Started How do startup accelerators work? James Wilson
    • Venture Capital Insights The Rise of Global SaaS from India Priya Rajan July 1, 2021
    • Ready to Raise Building Startup Advisory Board Jake Mendel
    • Getting Started Startup Equity Dilution Lewis Hower

    Subscribe

    Stay up to date on SVB

    Sign up now

    CONNECT WITH US

    Region:
    How We Help Clients
    • Starting Up
    • Venture-Funded
    • Corporate Banking
    • Investors
    • Private Banking & Wealth Advisory
    • Industries We Serve
    Trends & Insights
    • SVB Signature Research
    • SVB Perspectives
    • Success Stories
    • Startup Insights
    About Us
    • Careers
    • Living Our Values
    • Newsroom
    • Investor Relations
    • Leadership
    Contact & Support
    • Locations
    • Client Service & Support
    • Vendor Information
    • Contact
    • Fraud Prevention
    FDIC Logo
    © 2022 SVB Financial Group. All rights reserved. Silicon Valley Bank is a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve System. Silicon Valley Bank is the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB). SVB, SVB FINANCIAL GROUP, SILICON VALLEY BANK, and the chevron device are trademarks of SVB Financial Group, used under license.
    Terms of Use • Privacy • Cookies • Help for Homeowners • Corporate Governance • Equal Credit Opportunity Act Disclosures • FDIC • Manage Email Preferences • LIBOR Transition
    You are now leaving Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)
    You will be directed to a different website or mobile app that has its own terms of use, visitor agreement, security and privacy policies. SVB is not responsible for (and does not provide) any products, services or content at the third party site or app, except for products and services that carry the SVB name.
    I understand, let's proceed Stay on SVB.com