If you're in the market for a new job and you are lucky enough to have multiple offers, or you’re in a position where you can afford to wait for the right opportunity, you don’t have to pay the asshole tax. On this episode of the Radical Candor podcast, Kim, Jason and Amy talk about how to suss out whether your potential new boss is going to help you move toward the direction of your dreams or get in your way. Listen now to the last episode of 2021 to learn how to find a Radically Candid boss.
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Kim’s been getting a lot of questions from people about how to choose a new job and noted that one of the most important things you can do is to choose your boss wisely.
One of the first steps to avoiding a bad boss is knowing what you’re looking for in a boss.
Think about things like, how much autonomy you want in the job? Do you want a boss who’s going to be a mentor? Is this someone you could imagine going to with problems?
"First of all, trust your gut. That’s far more important than any list of criteria from me or anyone else. If you are not dying to work for this person, don’t take the job," Kim advises. "If you’re not sure what you think of them, start by making a list of pros and cons. Keep wrestling with it until you get to what is for you the determinative factor. For me, it’s can this person help me take a step in the direction of my dreams, or will they trip me up?"
Can this person help me take a step in the direction of my dreams, or will they trip me up?" — Kim Scott
You want a boss who is respectful of the people who work for them, not a boss who tries to lord power over their employees or who thinks the job is a value judgment rather than a responsibility they’ll be held accountable for. Ask your potential new boss:
If you are worried about the broader culture, make sure you're working for a shit umbrella, not a shit funnel." — Kim Scott
Once you have an offer and know who your boss is going to be, talk to other people who have worked for them. You better believe that your new employer is doing backdoor reference checks on you. Do some backdoor reference checks on your boss. If people were miserable working for that person, don't take the job. You'll soon be miserable too.
"It's true that your boss's boss can have a huge impact on how your boss behaves. But I've worked for some people who are incredible shit umbrellas — who shielded me from toxicity they were experiencing," Kim says. "Others, however, are like shit funnels... If you are worried about the broader culture, make sure you're working for a shit umbrella and not a shit funnel."
Improvising Radical Candor, a partnership between Radical Candor and Second City Works, introduces The Feedback Loop (think Groundhog Day meets The Office), a 5-episode workplace comedy series starring David Alan Grier that brings to life Radical Candor’s simple framework for navigating candid conversations.
You’ll get an hour of hilarious content about a team whose feedback fails are costing them business; improv-inspired exercises to teach everyone the skills they need to work better together, and after-episode action plans you can put into practice immediately.
We’re offering Radical Candor podcast listeners 10% off the self-paced e-course. Follow this link and enter the promo code FEEDBACK at checkout.
The Radical Candor Podcast theme music was composed by Cliff Goldmacher. Order his book: The Reason For The Rhymes: Mastering the Seven Essential Skills of Innovation by Learning to Write Songs.
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