Kim, Jason, and Amy respond to a real-life leadership curveball: what happens when you accept a new role—only to find out mid-interview that it’s actually a director position? Inspired by a question from Reddit, they share practical advice for anyone navigating the leap from managing individuals to managing managers. Learn how to build trust early, create a strong feedback culture, and recognize when to listen and when to take action. Whether you’re new to leadership or just feeling a little unprepared, remember: you don’t have to have all the answers. Leading with Radical Candor means you care personally, challenge directly, and stay curious. Your job isn’t to fix everything—it’s to help your team grow.

Get all of the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RadicalCandor.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Episode Links:⁠

Transcript

Accidentally Landed A Director Role | Reddit

What Do Managers of Managers Do? (The Crank Call From Kim) 4 | 16

Five Principles For Successfully Managing Managers

Are You a Manager of Managers? Here's How Speak-Truth-To-Power Meetings Can Make Your Workplace More Equitable

Leading Large Teams: How to Manage 50+ Direct Reports In an Open Office or Factory Setting

Context Matters — Share Your Radical Candor Stories 3 | 2

Connect:

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Kim, Amy, and Jason introduce a Reddit question about becoming a first time company director.

(00:01:12) Core Management Principles

Why the fundamentals of good leadership apply at every level.

(00:03:18) Scaling Leadership Skills

Learning to coach managers instead of solving problems directly.

(00:05:35) Speak Truth to Power Meetings

Creating space for honest feedback across company hierarchies.

(00:07:39) Building Trust

Why listening first matters—especially in a new role.

(00:11:52) Handling Dysfunctional Teams

Avoiding harm by understanding the root of the issues.

(00:13:19) Navigating Pressure from Above

How to explain why slowing down builds a strong foundation.

(00:14:46) When to Step in Immediately

Stories of handling toxic behavior and disrespect as managers.

(00:17:37) Spotting Issues in Remote Teams

Picking up subtle cues and helping team members course-correct.

(00:19:03) When Moving Too Slowly Backfires

Lessons from when hesitation allowed issues to grow.

(00:23:52) Leading Through Identity

How personal identity shapes experience and response in leadership.

(00:27:16) Respectful Leadership

Examples of respectful leadership communication and collaboration.

(00:30:30) Ask for Help the Right Way

Encouragement for new leaders to share their plans and seek feedback.

(00:33:50) Radical Candor Tips

Tips for helping overwhelmed, hesitant, or siloed leaders.

(00:42:00) Conclusion

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