Radical Candor

Rituals are the procedures and practices that signal what is important within a school. The more prominent the ritual, the more it emphasizes its significance to the organisation. Unlike routines, rituals are often less frequent and may lead to different outcomes each time they occur. Examples of school rituals can be seen in staff training programmes, promotions, and assessment processes.

For instance, a school that dedicates time every week to staff development training focused on teaching and learning sends a clear message that pedagogical growth is a core priority. Similarly, in the classroom, establishing regular sessions focused on feedback and improvement signals to students the value placed on continuous learning and progress.

Radical Candor as a Ritual

One particularly effective ritual for fostering open communication is the practice of giving feedback in the style of ‘radical candor’—a concept introduced by former Apple and Google executive Kim Malone Scott in her 2017 book, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity.

Radical candor is a leadership approach that balances caring personally while challenging directly. It encourages honest, constructive conversations where feedback is both respectful and candid. This means praising effectively while also delivering clear, unfiltered critique, ensuring that feedback is both helpful and actionable. Scott argues that this method creates a culture of trust and accountability, allowing employees to grow without fear of ambiguity or hidden criticism.

In a school setting, adopting radical candor as a ritual could significantly enhance professional dialogue and development—provided staff receive proper training on how to implement it effectively. Without guidance, this approach could easily mutate into unfiltered criticism or even conflict. However, when used correctly, radical candor can create a culture where staff feel supported, students receive honest and constructive feedback, and continuous improvement becomes embedded in the school ethos.