When Radical Candor Goes Wrong: A TRIZ Tale of Psychological Safety Breakdown

This story began as a practice session for facilitators—experienced professionals coming together to sharpen their skills and model what psychological safety looks like. Instead, it unraveled into a case study of what happens when psychological safety is presumed, not built.

Split into small groups across time zones, we were tasked with preparing a collaborative presentation. There were no working agreements. No explicit container for how we’d work together. We moved forward, assuming goodwill and professionalism. That assumption was our first mistake.

This newsletter dissects that experience through two powerful frameworks: Radical Candor and TRIZ. You’ll learn how radical candor can be misused—and how TRIZ could have helped us avoid the spiral. You’ll also find facilitation lessons on how to repair when trust is broken.

This isn’t just a story about failure. It’s a lesson in the importance of structure, safety, and shared agreements. A reminder that even those of us who teach psychological safety can forget to build it.