Russ Laraway, a leadership expert with 30 years at Google, Twitter, and Qualtrics, delves into the pitfalls of ineffective management. He introduces the 'Big Three' leadership essentials: direction, coaching, and career development. Discover why many leaders struggle with prioritization and why career conversations often come off as insincere. With practical insights and a call to gritty self-reflection, Russ challenges managers to embrace clarity and impact in their leadership approach, paving the way for greater team engagement.
49:27
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Common Management Skill Gaps
Many managers struggle with giving direction, coaching, and career conversations.
These skills are crucial for employee engagement and business outcomes.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Setting Clear Direction
Aggressively reduce your team's workload to a few key priorities.
Collaboratively create expectations with your team to increase clarity and buy-in.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Crafting Team Purpose and Vision
Define purpose and vision collaboratively with your team.
Facilitate discussions, gather diverse perspectives, and synthesize a shared understanding.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Russ Laraway breaks down why your leadership isn’t working—and how to fix it.
Stuck in a cycle of vague goals, half-hearted feedback, and meaningless career talks? Let’s call it what it is—bad leadership. In part one of this two part episode, Kim, Amy, and Russ Laraway rip into the mistakes that are killing your team’s engagement and results. Russ brings the heat with his “Big Three” leadership essentials—direction, coaching, and career—and doesn’t hold back on why so many managers fail to deliver. Why are leaders so scared to prioritize? Why do career conversations feel like an empty HR theater? And why does feedback either go ignored or turn into a dreaded confrontation? If you’re ready to ditch the excuses, face the hard truths, and lead with real purpose and impact, this episode is your wake-up call. It’s time to step up, get clear, and transform the way you lead—before it’s too late.
(00:00:00) Introduction Kim and Amy introduce Russ Laraway and the "Big Three" of leadership. (00:03:00) What Are the Big Three? Russ explains the framework of direction, coaching, and career. (00:07:24) The Flintstones House Kim and Russ share stories about the unique office space of Candor Inc. (00:10:31) Defining Direction in Leadership The importance of clarity in expectations and ruthless prioritization. (00:15:11) Long-Term Leadership Tools How managers can collaboratively define purpose and vision. (00:17:24) Crafting Team Goals and Priorities Setting measurable goals and the role of weekly prioritization. (00:26:12) Purpose and Vision Statements
Examples of vision statements and their impact on team alignment. (00:31:43) Coaching for Engagement Coaching elements that drive employee engagement. (00:33:29) The Book and Specific Praise Using praise to motivate teams and reinforce standards. (00:38:59) Soliciting Feedback from Teams The importance of creating a culture where feedback flows both ways. (00:43:53) Leadership and Power Dynamics Strategies to balance authority and empower team collaboration. (00:45:25) Radical Candor Tips Practical tips for applying direction, coaching, and career insights. (00:47:29) Conclusion
Radical Candor: Communication at Work 