Backroads prides itself on the method its trip leaders use to give feedback to one another. Radical Candor. In theory, you put oneself in the frame of mind of caring deeply about a colleague and their success, and then give pointed feedback (negative and positive) about their performance. It sounds good in theory. But without a genuine generosity of spirit for the other person and desire for their success, you get what I experienced at BR, a license to discourage, demean and demoralize a colleague with whom you have a beef. I experienced Radical Candor as no more than cover for weaponized criticism. (A direct violation of BR “professed” Guiding Principles.) The hostility drove me to resign the job I had wanted so much. I’ve heard from another colleague of her plans to do the same because of her bad experience in this feedback culture. BR, take heed. You’ve got some badly incompetent and unkind players on your trip leader teams doing damage to human beings and to your brand.
