Candor & Courage At Work®
The workplace communication podcast that helps professionals navigate difficult conversations, speak up with confidence, and build stronger careers. HR experts Denise and Maggie share practical frameworks for giving honest feedback, addressing conflict, and leading with authenticity... without the career-limiting fear that keeps most people silent. Learn how to say what needs to be said while building trust and advancing your professional goals.
Episodes
If you've never had an underperformer, you are a leadership unicorn! It's something every people-manager deals with at some point in their career, and how you handle it impacts the whole team.
In this episode, we walk through how to handle underperformance before it spirals, including: the honest questions every manager needs to ask themselves first, how to consider the full context around an employee's performance, and what to do ...
How do you balance a meaningful career with being present for your family, without completely depleting yourself in the process?
In this episode, we talk with the winner of our goal-setting contest about her biggest challenge for 2026: refilling her energy bucket so she can show up fully for the things and people that matter most to her.
It's a candid conversation about building meaningful professional connections while protecting...
If you're tired of setting goals only to abandon them by “Quitter’s Friday” (the second Friday in January), this episode is for you.
We're sharing a better way to approach goals (that actually makes them stick), inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, lessons from legendary coach Nick Saban, and our own experiences.
Denise opens up about how one candid moment helped her break a lifelong habit of procrastination. We also break dow...
What do you do when your boss asks for feedback… and you know they might not like the answer?
That question was at the heart of both of our stories in this episode, where we revisit two career-defining moments of high-stakes candor. In each case, there was no time to rehearse, just a split-second choice between staying silent or saying what needed to be said, even if it meant telling your boss they were being a jerk.
These aren't t...
As 2025 winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect. In this episode, we share five powerful questions designed to help you get clear on your professional goals, especially when it comes to learning with candor and courage at work.
Whether you're looking to stretch your strengths, scratch a creative itch, or lean into your personal brand, these questions will guide you toward a year that energizes (not exhausts) you.
One year ago, we started the podcast with one big question: What would change if more leaders spoke honestly and bravely at work?
In this special anniversary episode, we revisit some of our favorite moments and takeaways from the past 12 episodes. If you’re new here, this is the perfect introduction. And if you’ve been with us from the beginning, it’s a chance to reflect on the ideas and insights that still resonate.
We share why w...
When the wrong words could cost you trust, credibility, or even your job… how do you speak up anyway?
In this episode, we explore High Stakes Candor, what it means to prioritize the other person’s success over your temporary discomfort, and why that mindset is essential when the stakes are high. Plus, Denise shares about the time she had to decide whether to live up to her reputation for candor or to be “nice” to her boss.
By the ...
Courageous leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions.
In this episode, we explore what courage looks like in practice: creating psychological safety, supporting career development for your employees, and following through on what you say you’ll do (even if it means calling every two weeks for ten months).
You’ll learn why psychological safety is non-negotiable, how to see your team members...
No one brings their A-game to work for a manager who doesn’t “walk the talk.”
In this episode, executive coach Kent Vaughn joins us to explore what it really takes to lead with integrity… starting with yourself. From self-leadership and personal accountability to giving (and receiving) feedback, Kent breaks down the core habits that separate great leaders from the rest.
You’ll learn why intentions don’t build trust, how to use the ...
Maggie Carrington is a seasoned HR strategist and business advisor with over 35 years of experienc...
More than 30 years after The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People hit the shelves (and cassette players), Stephen Covey’s work still shapes leaders today.
In this episode, rather than walking through each habit one by one, we’re unpacking the deeper mindset shifts the book inspires and why Covey’s ideas remain essential for anyone who wants to lead with integrity and build teams that thrive.
Whether you're revisiting The 7 Habits o...
Having something important to say doesn't mean it's easy to say it.
In this episode we’re tackling listeners’ questions about navigating sensitive conversations without hurting feelings and building the confidence to voice your opinions despite fears of negative reactions.
After listening to this episode, you'll know how (and when) to speak up when it matters most, how to deliver difficult messages with empathy, and specific techni...
Workplace courage isn’t always about diving straight into the deep end. Sometimes you can wade in, one step at a time.
After listening to this episode, you will know the power of taking calculated risks at work, how they build your confidence, and three specific ways you can practice courage at work (today).
Plus, we answer a listener’s question about a team member who avoids conflict, and Maggie shares her story about confronting ...
Ever wonder why some leaders can deliver tough feedback that motivates people, while others leave their teams feeling deflated?
In this episode, we share practical strategies for making feedback feel like a gift rather than a burden, including creating an 'emotional bank account' and planning your respectful candor for a time when it will be best received.
Key Takeaways:
- Turn difficult conversatio...
Fear is ingrained in each of us from a young age. Every day as we left for school, our parents would say “Be careful!” Now, as adults and professionals, we must first recognize what our fears are, and then practice courage to overcome them.
In this episode, we discuss the three levels of fear and provide questions that you can ask yourself the next time you’re preparing to be courageous.
Resources Mentioned:
When you think of courage, you probably imagine a firefighter running into a burning building. But there are actually *nine* types of courage, and we’re diving into them today.
We also address a listener’s question about their colleague’s Ruinous Empathy, why courage is big AND small, and a few ways you can start implementing courage at work.
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.co...
Obnoxious Aggression, Ruinous Empathy, Manipulative Insincerity, and Radical Candor. These are the four types of behaviors outlined in Kim Scott’s book, Radical Candor, and understanding these behaviors can be eye-opening for leaders who need to provide kind and clear criticism to their employees.
In this episode, we discuss those behaviors, why you should build trust *before* you need to be candid with someone, and the steps we mu...
Now that we’ve introduced the principles of candor and courage, we can dive a bit deeper. In this episode, we share insights we’ve learned about candor. Denise shares the story of her first time providing brutally honest feedback and how it set her on the path to mastering candor. Plus, the top reasons why people avoid candor in the workplace and how giving honest (but kind) feedback can help employees go from good to better to bes...
In this introductory episode, we share our reasoning behind starting the podcast and introduce ourselves. We also explain why candor is important to Denise, and how Maggie defines courage. Most importantly, we share how candor and courage work hand-in-hand, and what you can expect from future episodes!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com
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