Radical Candor: Communication at Work

From Bottlenecks to Buy-In: Overcoming Bureaucracy 7 | 16


Listen Later

Cut through workplace red tape—without burning bridges.

Ever feel like getting anything done at work means running a marathon through molasses? You’re not alone. In this episode, Amy and Jason go full throttle on the soul-sucking systems that slow teams down and wear people out. Sparked by a listener stuck in a tangle of outdated processes, they unpack how well-meaning rules morph into momentum killers—and what to do when speaking up feels like you’re just making it worse. With a blend of straight talk, lived experience, and a whole lot of Radical Candor, they offer a new playbook: lead with curiosity, advocate with clarity, and stop waiting for permission to fix what’s broken. This one’s for anyone who's tired of navigating systems built to say "no" when the work is begging for a "hell yes."

Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.


Episode Links:

  • Transcript
  • Aman Kochar Change Enabler | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 9
  • Get Shit Done Step 4 — Push Decisions Into the Facts 4 | 10
  • How to Practice Radical Candor With Your Boss 3 | 9
  • How To Give Candid Feedback With the Radical Candor CORE Method
  • Connect:

    • Website
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Chapters:
      (00:00:00) Introduction
      Jason and Amy introduce a listener’s question about streamlining approval processes.
      (00:01:36) When Process Becomes a Trust Killer
      How approval bottlenecks erode trust and lead to burnout.
      (00:02:46) Approvals That Make Sense
      Differentiating between meaningful and meaningless approvals.
      (00:06:10) The Inertia of Bureaucracy
      Why process isn’t evil—but rarely gets reexamined when it should.
      (00:07:50) Communicating Up Without Escalating
      How to discuss change without putting managers on the defensive.
      (00:13:22) What Problem Is the Process Solving?
      A practical script for questioning approval thresholds constructively.
      (00:15:45) Software Purchase Saga
      A story about approvals that made no one’s life better.
      (00:20:19) Getting Specific vs. Talking in Patterns
      Why it’s better to present one example rather than broad frustration.
      (00:26:01) Role Play: The Rental Car Scenario
      How to challenge a flawed process without triggering a shutdown.
      (00:34:38) Finding a Third Way
      Creating solutions that meet both employee and organizational goals.
      (00:37:45) Radical Candor Tips
      Tips to help you navigate bureaucracy with clarity, care, and results.
      (00:43:34) Conclusion

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Radical Candor: Communication at WorkBy Kim Scott, Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler

      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      690 ratings


      More shows like Radical Candor: Communication at Work

      View all
      HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

      HBR IdeaCast

      1,844 Listeners

      The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

      The Look & Sound of Leadership

      1,162 Listeners

      Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

      Coaching for Leaders

      1,458 Listeners

      Why Oh Why by Andrea Silenzi

      Why Oh Why

      976 Listeners

      The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

      The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

      1,296 Listeners

      Getting In: Your College Admissions Companion by Panoply / Slate Magazine / Julie Lythcott-Haims / College Podcast

      Getting In: Your College Admissions Companion

      134 Listeners

      LifeAfter/The Message by GE Podcast Theater / Panoply / The Message

      LifeAfter/The Message

      3,278 Listeners

      Quiet: The Power of Introverts with Susan Cain by Susan Cain / Panoply / Quiet Revolution

      Quiet: The Power of Introverts with Susan Cain

      372 Listeners

      Making A Murderer by Panoply / Netflix

      Making A Murderer

      111 Listeners

      How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

      How to Be Awesome at Your Job

      1,041 Listeners

      The Grift by Panoply

      The Grift

      480 Listeners

      Haunted by Panoply

      Haunted

      1,105 Listeners

      You Must Remember Manson by Karina Longworth

      You Must Remember Manson

      868 Listeners

      The Walk by Panoply / Naomi Alderman / Six To Start

      The Walk

      1,672 Listeners

      Women at Work by Harvard Business Review

      Women at Work

      1,401 Listeners

      Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

      Worklife with Adam Grant

      9,245 Listeners

      Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

      Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

      75 Listeners

      The Modern Manager by Mamie Kanfer Stewart

      The Modern Manager

      190 Listeners

      The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

      The Anxious Achiever

      569 Listeners

      Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

      Coaching Real Leaders

      641 Listeners

      ReThinking by TED

      ReThinking

      616 Listeners

      Fixable by TED

      Fixable

      214 Listeners

      HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

      HBR On Strategy

      81 Listeners

      HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

      HBR On Leadership

      153 Listeners