Radical Candor “Asks” Jeff Wetzler: The Foundational Skill of Asking Questions 6 | 26
Radical Candor: Communication at Work
Radical Candor
4.7 • 729 Ratings
🗓️ 10 July 2024
⏱️ 45 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Kim sits down with Jeff Wetzler, author of "Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life." Recorded live, the conversation explores the fundamental skill of asking questions to solicit feedback and create a culture of Radical Candor. Jeff shares insights from his book, discussing the importance of tapping into the knowledge and perspectives of those around us. They delve into the five practices of “The Ask Approach" and reflect on audience questions, offering valuable takeaways for leaders and individuals alike. Tune in to learn how to transform your communication and leadership through the power of asking questions.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
- Jeff Wetzler: LinkedIn
- Ask | Jeff Wetzler
- Radical Candor Coffee Break: Exploring The Ask Approach YouTube
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Amy introduces a conversation between Kim and Jeff Wetzler, founder of “The Ask Approach” and author of “Ask.”
(00:01:01) Jeff's Book "Ask"
Jeff explains the premise of his book and the importance of tapping into the hidden wisdom of those around us.
(00:02:50) The Desire to Read Minds
The common desire to read minds and how asking questions effectively achieves this.
(00:04:00) Misinterpretations and Feedback
The challenges of interpreting facial expressions and the importance of asking directly.
(00:05:08) Ruinous Empathy
The concept of ruinous empathy and the reasons people withhold valuable feedback.
(00:08:14) The Importance of Commitment Conversations
The need for clear commitment conversations in management and leadership.
(00:11:11) The Certainty Loop
The concept of the certainty loop, and how assumptions shape perceptions and limit curiosity.
(00:13:01) Expanding the Repertoire of Questions
The need for a variety of questions to uncover deeper insights and perspectives.
(00:14:30) Strategies for Quality Questions
Strategies for posing quality questions and highlights the importance of soliciting feedback.
(00:17:28) Inviting Critical Feedback
The importance of explicitly inviting critical feedback and how to respond to it constructively.
(00:19:22) Checking for Understanding
Better ways to check for understanding without sounding patronizing.
(00:23:04) Handling Emotional Responses
The value of curiosity in handling emotional responses and moving towards Radical Candor.
(00:25:32) Listening to Learn
The concept of listening to learn, focusing on content, emotion, and action.
(00:28:04) Choosing Curiosity
Curiosity as a choice and foundational step in the ASK approach, which focuses on learning from others.
(00:29:44) Making It Safe
Strategies to make it safe for others to share their thoughts and the role of psychological safety.
(00:33:40) Pose Quality Questions
Differentiating between clumsy and quality questions, and asking questions that seek to understand others genuinely.
(00:39:04) Listen to Learn
Listening effectively not just for content, but also the emotion and action in the words.
(00:40:37) Reflect and Reconnect
Reflecting on feedback and reconnecting with the person who provided it to ensure clarity and appreciation.
(00:43:32) Conclusion
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hi, it's Amy Sandler and we're thrilled to share a conversation that Kim had with Jeff |
| 0:05.2 | Wetzler. Jeff's the author of Ask, tap into the hidden wisdom of people around you for unexpected |
| 0:11.9 | breakthroughs in leadership and life. This one was recorded live, so you'll hear Kim and Jeff |
| 0:18.0 | reflect on some questions from the audience as well. I love questions, |
| 0:23.0 | so this one's a favorite for me. And in fact, asking questions is the foundational skill of |
| 0:29.1 | practicing radical candor. In other words, soliciting feedback. Also, if you're looking for a little |
| 0:35.8 | Easter eggs in this conversation, Kim shares a story |
| 0:40.2 | when she refers to a colleague of hers who gave her some feedback. Spoiler alert, |
| 0:46.6 | that colleague was me. If you like these live conversations, you can find them with |
| 0:51.8 | accompanying videos on our YouTube channel under the |
| 0:55.2 | Live tab. You can listen to the podcast on YouTube as well. |
| 1:01.4 | I am excited to introduce Jeff Weffler, who is the author of a wonderful book and a book I love and a book that is very important. |
| 1:13.3 | If you are trying to create a culture of radical candor, you need to learn how to ask for feedback and for just to ask in general. |
| 1:22.0 | So, Jeff, talk a little bit more about your book, Ask, and then we can, I'll ask you some questions, |
| 1:28.4 | and you can ask me some questions. |
| 1:30.0 | Love it. |
| 1:30.5 | Thank you for having me, Kim. |
| 1:31.7 | It's great to be with you. |
| 1:33.2 | The premise of the book Ask is that the people around us in our lives, whether that's |
| 1:38.5 | our coworkers, our managers, the people we manage, clients, investors, friends, whoever it is, |
| 1:43.5 | they are filled with ideas |
| 1:45.2 | and insights and perspectives, even feedback for us that is not always coming to us directly. |
... |
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