Radical Candor in Self-Reflections By Lizzie Hodge How can Radical Candor help
what can be sometimes awkward
it, ‘think of it like a compass to
lead your students to more
conversations with your team
help guide conversations’ and in
honest and in-depth reflections?
members, but the more I looked
this case, the conversation with
into this approach, the more I
themselves when reflecting on
As a team of learning leaders
thought how useful this could
their work.
(otherwise known as heads
be for students to use as a
of department), we often
self reflecting tool - an honest
look into current theories and
conversation with themselves
management/pedagogical
about themselves and their
approaches that may positively
work. For the purpose of this
impact our teaching and learning
article, I will focus on how I used
experience. One approach that
this method for self-reflection,
has sparked an interest in me
however, hopefully you will
and how it might be used as
recognise how incredibly useful
a way to reflect on a creative
it can be in teaching students
process is Kim Scott’s ‘Radical
how to give constructive but kind
Candor’. There is a plethora of
feedback to their peers!
Radical Candour: Our Approach (webpage accessed
information out there on this
1st May 2022).
theory and I do not pretend to be
How often do we read journals
an expert, but simply put, Radical
where our students have
Candor is ‘Caring Personally while
either been way too harsh on
Challenging Directly’.
themselves or perhaps offered an
How I used this approach
over inflated version of their work,
in class:
It is a method of giving guidance
not noticed or even missed out
and feedback that is both kind
weaknesses and areas for growth/
1. As a class activity, I showed
and clear, specific and sincere.
improvement? I am always
the students this diagram and
‘Caring personally’ being the
grappling with how to help
the descriptions below. I asked
humanity, human relationships,
my students to find that sweet
them to reflect on times when
love for each other etc. In IB
balance between being kind to
they may have experienced
terms - caring. ‘Challenging
themselves but at the same time
some of the characteristics
Directly’ being the ‘willingness
challenging themselves.
below either in their own self reflections or when giving
to piss people off’ as Scott puts it, or IB terms, perhaps being a
Below you will see a diagram Kim
feedback to others. The
risk taker? Ultimately, being open
Scott uses to help explain Radical
purpose of this step is to
minded enough to receive the
Candor and importantly, what
understand/recognise these
truth without being hurt or angry
it is not! I know none of these
different behaviours. It is
through skilled communication.
behaviours will be new to you,
important to point out that
but I found that giving them a
you should warn your students
It was intended to be used as a
name really helped to focus the
not to name names - very
management tool in navigating
reflection/response. As Scott puts
tempting for them!
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