0080 - Why ‘I Have Feedback for You’ Feels So Scary—and How to Move Past It ft Jason Rosoff

Why Lead?

Ever felt your heart sink when someone says, “I have some feedback for you”? You’re not alone. In this insightful episode, I chat with Jason Rosoff, co-founder of Radical Candor, about the gripping fear and anxiety that often hijack feedback and performance conversations.

Jason has helped organizations of every size—from scrappy startups to Fortune 100 heavyweights—create honest, human-centered cultures. Drawing on both brain science and real-world success stories. Jason offers practical tips on moving from avoidance and dread to candor and collaboration.

We explore:

  • Why feedback sparks so much anxiety—and how to keep conversations future-focused
  • Intent vs. content: focusing on the relationship outcome, not just the mistake
  • How leaders can “lay down their power” and invite genuine, two-way dialogue
  • The surprising power of small, frequent check-ins over staged, high-pressure reviews
  • Confronting in-group vs. out-group bias so everyone—from underrepresented employees to introverts—gets the feedback they need

Learn More About Jaon and his work

Important Links
*Join Thrive in the Middle Today!
*Book WhyLead to Train Your Teams
*Explore Our Services


Social Media
*Ben Owden's LinkedIn
*Ben Owden's Twitter 

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada