Let's Talk Candidly: How to embracing candor

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Can we get real for a minute? I mean, can we talk candidly?

For many of you, the hair on your neck just went straight up. For others, you rolled up your sleeves and were ready for whatever.

It got me thinking about candor and why being candid is so hard—both at the giving and receiving end.

Good topic for today’s blog... don’t you think?

Embracing candor is more than just being direct in communication and responding in kind. It’s about being clear, concise, and honest in all conversations.

It involves being:

• Speak Up
• Be Specific
• Respect Others
• Tune In
• Invite Ideas

Candor is essential because it helps us navigate challenging conversations and operate in environments that encourage creative tension and respectful debate. It’s about balancing tenacity and passion with the goal of establishing trust through communication.

Embracing candor does not mean giving people a free pass to be brutally honest. It means being direct and respectful, challenging and caring personally, being transparent and empathetic—there’s real power in that balance.

Candor is not only about speaking up; it’s also about listening actively. Communication is key in all directions. It’s about creating a space where individuals can speak up, hold themselves and others accountable, and discuss sensitive topics—whether work-related, social issues, or cultural concerns.

Additional resources I recommend:

• Dare to Disagree: Margaret Heffernan [TED Talk; 13 minutes]: Most people instinctively avoid conflict, but good disagreement is central to progress. Margaret illustrates how the best partners aren’t echo chambers—and how great relationships and businesses allow people to deeply disagree.
• The Power of Vulnerability: Brené Brown [TED Talk; 21 minutes]: Trust and vulnerability are key elements of candor. Brené shares insights from her research on human connection and being vulnerable.
• How to Say Anything to Anyone [Business Book Summary; 15 minutes]: The author makes the case that candor is missing in the workplace. By being more candid, businesspeople can create more effective and open relationships.

For a deeper dive into candor, here are some suggested books:

• Radical Candor by Kim Scott
• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
• The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey
• Permission to Speak Freely by Diane Stoddard
• Ethicability by Roger Steare
• Has the West Lost It by Kishore Mahbubani
• The Era of Darkness by Shashi Tharoor

I’m looking forward to enabling and engaging in a culture that embraces creative tension and respectful debate and dialogue.

Happy Thursday all,

-srt

P.S. Just a reflection—I’m excited to share that today is my mom’s 83rd birthday! Many of you hear me share the wisdom I’ve received from her over the years (“Sandyisms”). As I reflect today, I consider myself so lucky to be able to take her to dinner tonight. While we won’t have 83 candles (fire regulations at the restaurant—lol), we’ll have a wonderful night enjoying each other’s company and celebrating another day on this beautiful planet.

I encourage each of you to take a moment and reflect on your own family—if you have them, kiss your kids (or pets or plants) and appreciate the joy of simply existing today. 😊

How to Embrace Candor

Happy Spring!

The rain has slowed, the bulbs are a bloom and our resident Canadian Geese (George and Martha) have four goslings following them around.  If that doesn’t scream S P R I N G, I don’t know what does. 

I am surprised that March is over, it was an action-packed month.  Seriously, the ISO 20022 readiness and release, a quick run to Charlotte, a Soroptimist Awards Ceremony where we gave out scholarships to three women, and a volunteer event celebrating over 800 volunteers for FieldHaven Feline Center (where I serve on the Board of Directors).  I am grateful for the busyness, as some of you know this is the first year anniversary of losing my sister, and her birthday week without the ISO release would have been very hard.  Grateful to many of you, who remembered and gave me some additional patience and grace during this time. 

Embracing Candor

This past week I have begun to have first quarter performance conversations with the full-time employees.  These conversations are essential to ensure everyone understands what they will be measured on and also receive real-time feedback for the quarter. 

One of the objectives that always feels hard to document is Objective Two:  Living the Wells Fargo Expectations.  The 2023 Expectations are Wells Fargo’s way of focusing on a culture that is transformative by embracing and modeling doing what’s right, doing it well and leading with an enterprise mindset. 

The six attributes within the expectations are:

1. Embracing Candor
2. Do What’s Right
3. Be Great at Execution
4. Learn and Grow
5. Champion diversity, equity and inclusion

6. Build High Performing Teams (Managers)

Next week, we will dive deeper into Embrace Candor, but today I challenge all to open the 2023 Expectations and do a personal assessment. 

• Are you embracing respectful debate and dialogue?  If so, you are embracing candor.
• If you see a problem, do you take ownership or get support to make things right? If so, you are modeling "doing what’s right".
• Do you strive to simplify transactions and end-to-end processing?  If so, you are showing others how to be great at execution.
• Are you tenacious in overcoming obstacles? If so, you are modeling to learn and grow.
• Do you speak up, share your unique voice, and encourage ideas that challenge your own thinking?  If so, you are advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Happy Spring and Happy Thursday all,

-srt

Reflection: Connection

Happy Thursday!

I have been a little absent with my Thursday Thoughts and I sincerely apologize.  It is not surprising that ISO has been on many of our minds and taking over our calendars too. 

Next week, I can’t wait to share with you pictures of George and Martha, our Canadian Geese who have returned (without Bryan / Ryan) and have nested on the island on our pond.  George has become very demanding of late.  Following me in the morning to the food bin and waiting within feet of me until I scoop him some food.  From last year, do you all remember how big George is?  He is HUGE!  But, pictures to come (maybe even a video). 

Reflection:  Connection

I want to thank you for your patience with my calendar.  It had become quite unruly, but I feel it is now settling down and my time is becoming more my own.  

Connection is so critical for us humans.  Especially important in our virtual environment right now at Wells Fargo (and our world).  I wanted to encourage connection and offer ways where you should be connecting!  

Bottom line:  Let’s connect!

1x1s

I encourage you to take the initiative and set up individual meetings – 1x1s - with me or your Tech Lead throughout the month.  This helps us get to know each other but also allows you to showcase the work you are doing and share obstacles that we can assist in breaking down. I suggest starting with monthly, but encourage you to schedule a 1x1 whenever you have an idea to pitch, a challenge you need assistance with, or simply have a question1x1s are open for team members and contractors!  I also encourage you to schedule 1x1s with your manager/team lead to discuss day-to-day work.  I will let the others share their availability, but for me, If you are in India, 6am to 9am Pacific time might be the best time for us to connect.  If you are domestic, eastern/central time zone, float a time/date between 5am – 7am (pacific), and if you are mountain / Pacific, 3pm – 6pm Pacific. 

Daily Stand-Ups and Agile Ceremonies

Participation in the daily stand-ups and agile ceremonies is an excellent way to bond with the team.  Show up, actively engage, and share what your top 3 focus for the week is.  Remember, it is important to use this time to share, connect, and ask for help!   Agile ceremonies are for team members and contractors.

NEW All Hands Meeting

Our monthly all-hands is a way for our entire team to get together, connect, and showcase topics.  Again, show up, actively engage, and be willing to share what you are working on as a larger topic! 

Type	Facilitated By	Duration	Participation Expected?
One x Ones	You!	Up to You	No, but encouraged
Weekly Stand Up	ScrumMaster	Weekly	Yes
All Hands	Me	Monthly	Yes
Performance Review	Me	Quarterly	Yes

Happy Thursday all,

-srt