Heather McGowan On Rebuilding Connection and Collaboration 7 | 2

Radical Candor: Communication at Work

Radical Candor

Careers, Relationships, Society & Culture, Business

4.7 • 740 Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ditch the drama and rebuild connection where it counts. Feeling overwhelmed by workplace polarization, the loneliness epidemic, and the constant whirl of change? You’re not alone—and neither are your teams. On this episode of Radical Candor, Kim and Amy bring in Heather McGowan, future-of-work strategist, to dig into why we’re so divided and distracted at work—and what leaders can actually do about it. Heather gets real about the deeper roots of these challenges, from shifting demographics to technology’s relentless pace, and shares her signature brand of practical, no-nonsense advice for fostering respect, empathy, and collaboration. It’s not about ignoring differences or plastering on a quick fix—it’s about creating the kind of human connections that help teams thrive. Learn how to lead with intention, listen to what’s not being said, and ditch the divide in favor of working better together. Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast. Episode Links: Transcript Heather E. McGowan - ImpactEleven | LinkedIn Heather McGowan Navigating the once a century shifts: cultural, social, demographic, technical, and economic Loneliness Epidemic is Leaving Us Distracted and Divided Managing Post-Election 2024 Tension At Work 6 | 43 I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times Bowling Alone: Revised and Updated: The Collapse and Revival of American Community The Adaptation Advantage: Let Go, Learn Fast, and Thrive in the Future of Work The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries Braver Angels The No Asshole Rule Connect: Website Instagram TikTok LinkedIn YouTube Chapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionKim and Amy introduce the episode’s focus on workplace polarization with guest Heather McGowan.(00:02:12) Why We’re DividedThe societal and workplace factors fueling polarization.(00:06:42) Balancing Rights and Income InequalityThe interplay between workplace equity and broader societal trends.(00:09:02) Short-Term Thinking in LeadershipHow short-term decisions undermine long-term organizational health.(00:12:03) Intentional Conversations Across DividesPractical tips for engaging with diverse perspectives meaningfully.(00:16:21) Finding Common Ground at WorkBuilding relationships through shared experiences and lighthearted topics.(00:22:12) Drawing Ethical BoundariesKnowing when to disengage while maintaining openness elsewhere.(00:26:32) The Future of Work and LearningWhy adaptability and continuous learning matter more than ever.(00:33:46) Loneliness in the WorkplaceCombating workplace isolation with intentional connection and empathy.(00:41:27) Embracing Discomfort and CuriosityWhy great leaders lean into questions, not answers.(00:45:53) Radical Candor TipsStart conversations, focus on humanity, and take small steps to connect.(00:49:10) Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Radical Canter podcast. I'm Kim Scott.
0:08.5	I'm Amy Sandler, and today we're picking up the conversation we had recently with Denise Hamilton,
0:14.0	where we focused on how we can overcome polarization at work so we can work together better.
0:20.5	And if you didn't listen to that recent
0:21.7	episode, we're going to put that in the show notes. Today, we are so excited to have Heather
0:27.9	McAwen join us. As we continue that conversation, Heather is a future of work strategist,
0:35.2	a keynote speaker, executive consultant, lecturer, and author of books,
0:41.0	including titles like Disrupt Together, The Adaptation Advantage, and the Empathy Advantage. All of those
0:50.4	things seem more important than ever. And so today we're talking with Heather about how did we get so divided, so distracted?
1:00.2	What does this mean for workplace performance?
1:04.2	And we really want to get into some practical tips so that leaders can develop more cohesion
1:08.8	and focus on their teams.
1:14.5	We might spend some time talking about the loneliness epidemic as well.
1:21.1	We'll see why Heather thinks this is such an important part of the challenges we're facing now.
1:23.3	So welcome Heather.
1:25.3	Hey there. Thanks so much for having me.
1:27.4	Thank you so much for joining us. And I always like to start. How did you and Kim connect?
1:31.4	Well, we were both at Baptist Health down in Miami. We were both keynote speakers at an event they had.
1:37.3	And I knew of Kim's work ahead of time. And I had sent her a note through one of our mutual agents.
1:44.3	And then we ended up having a nice conversation after we both stepped off stage.
1:48.3	And I think, you know, what we were saying worked really well together.
1:54.0	But Heather, one of the things you and I were talking about is it might have been better if you went first, which I agreed with. So why don't you,
	...

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