Reboot Podcast Episode #76 – A More Powerful Way of Working – with Patty McCord

The Reboot podcast showcases the heart and soul, the wins and losses, the ups and downs of startup leadership. On the show, Entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and Startup Leaders discuss with Jerry Colonna the emotional and psychological challenges they face daily as leaders.

Episode 76 // January 25, 2018

Guests

Patty McCord

Patty McCord

Author, Coach & former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix

View Bio

Episode Description

Radical honesty –  an open and authentic contribution, which lacks the intention of causing unnecessary pain and suffering, but serves to provide a mirror in which we can clearly reflect on the aspects of ourselves to which we are blind.  

On this episode of the Reboot Podcast, Jerry is joined by Patty McCord, former chief talent officer of Netflix, renowned for pioneering the use of radical honesty in the workplace. With her new book, Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, Patty aims to clearly define the best path for creating workplace cultures of high performance and profitability.

In this conversation, Jerry and Patty consider how the implementation of radical honesty in our organizations serves to forge solid, supportive spaces where workplace safety is no longer defined solely by the assurance of employment but contains space for team members to feel seen, heard and nourished to grow. Where skill sets are broadened, and diverse people with different ways of thinking come together without fear or expectation to judge or be judged. Wouldn’t that be a more powerful way of working?

Patty McCord on Twitter | Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility | #43 – The Dharma of Inclusivity – with Konda Mason


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Show Highlights

Memorable Quotes:

“When teams of people really trust each other, they just get more stuff done.” – Patty McCord

“The idea of practicing honesty in the moment just was an efficiency matter at the beginning. And then when it became like a way of being, I could see how teams formed faster, how they trusted each other more quickly, how they got more done because they just cut through the bullshit.” – Patty McCord

“I can say hard things to you, with kindness and respect, and you keep your dignity, and I’m not cruel.” – Patty McCord

“Just because you deliver facts does not mean you deliver truth as the other person sees it.” – Patty McCord

“That’s the skill of radical honesty, is being able to say the truth so that the other person hears it.” – Patty McCord

“We forget the most effective feedback for us as humans are the positive ones.” – Patty McCord

“Admitting that you don’t know can be an invitation to explore solutions with other people. The other beautiful thing about admitting that you don’t know is at the same time, it admits that you can’t solve it alone.” – Patty McCord

“When you go to that place that no one else has gone before, it’s really scary.” – Patty McCord

“I realized that I wanted to build a company that was a great place to be from.” – Patty McCord

“What if work meant a safe place grow, challenge myself, and learn new skills? What if it meant a safe place to encounter diverse people and different ways of thinking, in such a way where I’m not expected to judge nor am I expected to be judged?” – Jerry Colonna

“If you think safety means job security, then not only is it demeaning, but it puts you in a constant combat zone. You have to protect yourself.” – Patty McCord

“What makes you an A player, what makes you really valuable, what makes you have an up and to the right career trajectory, is having done great things with other amazing people.” – Patty McCord

On feeling safe at work: “It means being in a risky, innovative place of growth, where you’re safe to grow.” – Jerry Colonna

“Usually the flaws that we have, we don’t see.” – Patty McCord

“Great honesty and feedback gives people knowledge that they didn’t have.” – Patty McCord

“There’s this collective wish to pretend that we all are infallible, but we can’t see what we can’t see.” – Jerry Colonna

“We all have power. We own our careers, we own our lives, we make decisions. And the sooner we can start talking about those decisions we’re gonna be making for the rest of our lives early on in our lives, then I think it can help change the dialogue.” – Patty McCord

“I think women have, at least for this tiny moment in time, gotten so frustrated that they’re gonna tell the truth … regardless of the consequences. Because they just can’t take it anymore.” – Patty McCord

“One of the ways for us to have equity is for us all to realize that it’s not just about speaking the truth. It’s about hearing it.” – Patty McCord

“What I mean by powerful is that I want of us to recognize that no matter how you feel, it’s there inside of you.” – Patty McCord

“So many leaders do the wrong thing, for what they believe to be the right reason, which is protecting themselves from something they’re scared of.” – Patty McCord

“Channel your fear and make it power.” – Patty McCord