A Product Manager reflects on failure as a growth mechanism, drawing parallels between a failed driving test and a poorly adopted platform launch. The post argues that honest, direct feedback — framed through Kim Scott's Radical Candor framework — is essential for learning from mistakes. It also addresses the gender gap in how failure and feedback are experienced in tech, noting that women face harsher penalties for mistakes and are often shielded from candid feedback, which stunts growth. Practical tips include stopping avoidance of awkward conversations, distinguishing candor from cruelty, and making feedback a two-way exchange.
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