Book Review: Radical Respect ✊

I've never heard of this book before, but it was recommended after reading The Clean Coder.

The book is called "Radical Respect" and was written by Kim Scott.

The synopsis looked promising: it explains how to work in an environment that follows radical respect guidelines.

Why Is Radical Respect Important?

Think of it this way: how can you reach your team's full potential?

You can reach it if every person contributes 100% to the goal.

A person can contribute 100% if they have the right environment where they are respected and can be themselves.

Now, how do you create this environment?

From the book:

"Optimize for collaboration not coercion.
Honor individuality, don't demand conformity."

Top Lessons From The Book

We all have biases

When we hear the word "bias," we can immediately assume that it means something bad. However, we need biases to live and interpret the world.

The author also says the following about biases:

"Bias is not meaning it. Bias is unconcious. It comes from the part of our minds that jumps to conclusions, often reflecting stereotypes that we don't believe if we stop to think."

The problem arises when you turn your bias into a prejudice, and actually "meaning it".

This lesson is important because it helped me reflect on how many biases I have and how many times they have led me to behave differently toward someone.

Create An Environment Where Everyone Is Held Accountable

We usually see workers being held accountable if they do something wrong. But how can you create a culture of radical respect if everything the leader says goes?

It's virtually impossible to be right 100% of the time.

And on top of that, being called out feels uncomfortable.

But like the author says:

"Becoming aware of something one is unaware of usually requires the other person to point it out."

Creating a safe space where your biases are pointed out and you're not punished for them, might be the best step towards a more accepting culture inside the company.

"Not getting called out on one's BS breeds a problematic overconfidence that harms collaboration."

Remaining Silent Is Worse Than Talking About It

I'm not the best person to talk about this lesson.

I consider myself the exact opposite. If I see my colleagues being biased, I will most likely remain silent to avoid confrontation.

Now, is this the most helpful approach? Of course not.

"Remaining silent in the face of a colleague's bias in order to avoid their feelings of shame is neither kind nor respectful, assuming the colleague doesn't want to keep saying and doing the biased thing."

The author suggests:

"There's often external pressure to be silent. Recognize that pressure and resist it."

Being Emotional is Good

I don't consider myself emotional, but other people have labeled me as such. Even if this is true, I think we should change this idea.

From the author:

"Being emotional is somehow regarded as negative (...). What's wrong with being emotional?
It means that I'm human, it means that I care, it means that I'm actually present."

This helped me because trying not to be myself worsens my productivity.

And especially:

"(...) you can't be great at your job if you can't be who you are at your job."

Do I Recommend it?

Definitely yes. I enjoyed the book.

The author discusses very specific situations from her past that helped her establish the book's idea. She also details how to apply radical respect in the workplace and why that is beneficial.

Even if you haven't read the book, I invite you to check in on your closest colleagues, especially those in minority groups at work.

Also, check in with yourself to see if you have biases.

"Remember the person you're speaking truth to is also a human."

Special thanks to Eduardo Sanches Bocato for sharing this recommendation with me.