Reflection: Trust First - The Real Work Behind Radical Candor

Benj Miller shares a powerful breakthrough from a real team session.

What started as a light, energized morning turned into a raw, honest afternoon.

The team finally said what needed to be said.

Here’s what stood out:

🔹 Politeness Isn’t Health
Surface harmony looks peaceful but hides real problems.
Teams need safety to practice real candor.

🔹 Leaders Go First
Trust doesn’t happen by accident.
It starts when leaders model it with vulnerability.

🔹 Curiosity > Defensiveness
Your response sets the tone.
Stay curious instead of reactive to keep conversations open.

🔹 One Leader Holding Back = Slower Team
When high-capacity people dim their energy,
it limits the whole team’s momentum.

🔹 Trust Happens Between Meetings
You don’t build trust in the room.
You build it in the one-on-one moments between sessions.

Sessions is hosted by Benj Miller and McKenzie Decker

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