Drowning in direct reports and barely keeping your head above water? When you’re responsible for 30 to 50 people, the idea of meaningful one-on-ones is a joke—but so is pretending you can manage that many people without a meltdown. On this episode, Kim and Amy rip apart the myth that “just working harder” will fix the problem and get real about why traditional leadership approaches fail at scale. From no-nonsense strategies like idea teams (so you’re not drowning in suggestions), walking the floor like a pro, and knowing when to listen without turning into everyone’s personal complaint department, they share simple strategies to build trust and keep things running smoothly. Reality check: You cannot have deep, weekly 1:1s with 40+ people. But you can create a system where your team still feels seen and heard. Tune in to learn:
✔ How to set up an Ideas Team so great feedback doesn’t overwhelm you
✔ Why walking the floor is more powerful than endless meetings
✔ How to make the most of the few 1:1s you do have
Leadership doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Let’s do it smarter, not harder.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
- 7 Ways To Improve One-on-One Meetings | Radical Candor
- Effective 1:1s - Tips For One-on-One Meetings With Your Team
- Have More Effective 1:1 Meetings | Radical Candor Podcast 2 | 9
- How To Get Shit Done | Radical Candor Podcast 4 | 2
- Radical Candor – Boost Leadership Capability | Joyous
- You Have Too Many Managers | Kieran Snyder
- Leading Large Teams: How to Manage 50+ Direct Reports In an Open Office or Factory Setting | Radical Candor
Connect:
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy introduce a listener’s question on managing one-on-ones with large teams.
(00:01:27) The Limits of Scaling Relationships
The importance of creating an environment where employees feel heard.
(00:02:47) Using an Ideas Team
Why managers should set up an ideas team to filter and prioritize suggestions.
(00:06:15) Purpose of One-on-Ones
Creating structured feedback systems to improve ef
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