Ready to love your job, crush your career goals, and become the kind of leader everyone actually wants to work with?
Welcome to the Radical Candor podcast, where you'll learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity. Host Amy Sandler and Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to break down how you can Care Personally and Challenge Directly — the deceptively simple but powerful formula for building stronger teams, giving (and getting) better feedback, and leading with heart and clarity.
Each episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you do the best work of your life while building the best relationships of your career. Whether you’re a manager, a team player, or dreaming bigger for your future, this is the podcast that will change how you show up at work — and in life. P.S. Don’t forget to check out Kim Scott’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity! Want even more Radical Candor? Join the Radical Candor Community — free forever.
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Ready to love your job, crush your career goals, and become the kind of leader everyone actually wants to work with?
Welcome to the Radical Candor podcast, where you'll learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity. Host Amy Sandler and Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to break down how you can Care Personally and Challenge Directly — the deceptively simple but powerful formula for building stronger teams, giving (and getting) better feedback, and leading with heart and clarity.
Each episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you do the best work of your life while building the best relationships of your career. Whether you’re a manager, a team player, or dreaming bigger for your future, this is the podcast that will change how you show up at work — and in life. P.S. Don’t forget to check out Kim Scott’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity! Want even more Radical Candor? Join the Radical Candor Community — free forever.
Are Flat Organizations More Efficient? Kim and Jason Weigh In 7 | 37
Radical Candor: Communication at Work
41 minutes
5 days ago
Are Flat Organizations More Efficient? Kim and Jason Weigh In 7 | 37
Chasing efficiency by flattening your organization can sound appealing, but true innovation and collaboration often thrive in a different kind of structure. Kim and Jason discuss how a thoughtful hierarchy — built on trust, clarity, and collaboration — helps teams do their best work. Drawing on lessons from Google, Apple, and Khan Academy, they share how empowered managers, clear decision-making, and open communication can transform the way organizations function. They also offer practical strategies for creating a collaboration hierarchy that supports managers, strengthens relationships, and gives great ideas the space to flourish. If you’re ready to build a culture where teams feel trusted, connected, and inspired, this conversation provides the helpful guidance you need to make it happen.
Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
Episode Links:
Transcript
Middle Managers: Dinosaurs or Essential Glue? 7 | 4
Get Shit Done Step 4 — Push Decisions Into the Facts 4 | 10
Connect:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
YouTube
Bluesky
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Jason introduce why “flat” organizations aren’t always as efficient as they seem.
(00:01:56) The Myth of Flat Organizations
Why fewer layers don’t automatically lead to better efficiency.
(00:04:03) Why Companies Flatten
Collaboration hierarchies versus command-and-control structures.
(00:08:02) Reality of Managerial Capacity
How having manageable spans of control can foster innovation.
(00:12:44) Collaborative Hierarchies
Examples of how thoughtful hierarchy supports entrepreneurship.
(00:18:48) Decision-Making & Trust
Building employee trust through transparent decision-making.
(00:22:01) Avoiding Silent Failures
The hidden risks when managers are overloaded and politics take over.
(00:26:45) Democratizing Communication
How open communication and collaboration beat rigid hierarchies.
(00:29:31) Fixing Managerial Overload
Practical strategies to maintain efficiency without burning out managers.
(00:36:34) Radical Candor Tips
Actionable tips to keep communication open and teams thriving.
(00:38:02) Conclusion
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Radical Candor: Communication at Work
Ready to love your job, crush your career goals, and become the kind of leader everyone actually wants to work with?
Welcome to the Radical Candor podcast, where you'll learn how to kick ass at work without losing your humanity. Host Amy Sandler and Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff to break down how you can Care Personally and Challenge Directly — the deceptively simple but powerful formula for building stronger teams, giving (and getting) better feedback, and leading with heart and clarity.
Each episode is packed with real talk, relatable stories, and actionable tips to help you do the best work of your life while building the best relationships of your career. Whether you’re a manager, a team player, or dreaming bigger for your future, this is the podcast that will change how you show up at work — and in life. P.S. Don’t forget to check out Kim Scott’s New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity! Want even more Radical Candor? Join the Radical Candor Community — free forever.
