Radical Candor: Communication at Work

By: Kim Scott Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler
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  • Summary

  • Learn to love your job and kick ass at work without losing your humanity by practicing the principles of Radical Candor. Improve your feedback and communications skills, become a better leader, manager or team player, and drive your #careergoals in the direction of your dreams. Host Amy Sandler leads discussions with Radical Candor co-founders Kim Scott and Jason Rosoff about what it means to be Radically Candid, why it’s simple but not easy to Care Personally and Challenge Directly on the daily, and why it’s worth it. Tune in to get actionable tips for doing the best work of your life and building the best relationships of your career, and don't forget to read Kim Scott's New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity!

    Get this podcast early and ad-free when you join the Radical Candor Community! Sign up now and, in addition to the ad-free podcast, you'll get a 7-day FREE trial, access to Radical Candor courses, real-time, interactive learning opportunities, regular interaction with Radical Candor experts, and so much more! If you’ve ever struggled with communication at work, this is your community.
    Copyright Radical Candor 2024
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Episodes
  • The Cost of the Move-Fast-Break-Things Mentality 7 | 17

    The Cost of the Move-Fast-Break-Things Mentality 7 | 17
    Apr 23 2025
    (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:31) Mistakes, Innovation, and Safety (00:02:43) Ebola Funding Fallout (00:05:08) When Speed Isn’t the Answer (00:08:10) Accountability & Power (00:10:30) Scale Changes the Stakes (00:14:39) Metrics That Mislead (00:20:00) Debate Fuels Innovation (00:23:43) Power, Politics, and Platforms (00:28:52) Inside Content Moderation (00:36:46) Why Oversight Is So Hard (00:41:37) Radical Candor Tips (00:42:52) Conclusion When speed becomes the goal, accountability gets left in the dust.Move fast, break things, and hope no one notices? Not so fast. In this episode, Kim and Jason rip into the shiny promise of speed at all costs—and the very real damage it leaves behind. From slashing vital research to chasing clicks with outrage bait, they expose how a lack of debate, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making can spiral into chaos. This isn’t just about tech; it’s about what happens when leaders skip the hard conversations and dodge the consequences. Drawing from their own experiences, they make the case for cultures that value learning over ego, action over excuses, and why psychological safety isn’t just nice to have—it’s non-negotiable. It’s a no-BS look at what happens when no one’s allowed to say, “Hey, maybe let’s not.”Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.Episode Links:How To Get Shit Done | Radical Candor Podcast 4 | 2Leaders Can Move Fast And Fix ThingsCEO Of $4.2 Billion Tech Giant Says Defying Silicon Valley's ‘Move Fast And Break Things’ Mantra Was Essential To Growing His Business | FortuneAmy Edmondson—The Science Of Failing Well | Radical Candor Podcast 5 | 18The Measurement Problem—Development Versus Management | Radical Candor Podcast 3 | 7Connect:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedInYouTubeChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionKim and Jason introduce the episode's topic of the "move fast and break things" philosophy.(00:00:31) Mistakes, Innovation, and SafetyWhy admitting errors is key to progress—even in high-stakes fields.(00:02:44) Ebola Funding FalloutA case study in reckless decisions and real-world impact.(00:05:08) When Speed Isn’t the AnswerHow context matters—from search engines to nuclear plants.(00:08:10) Accountability & PowerThe erosion of checks and balances in tech and government.(00:10:30) Scale Changes the StakesWhy today’s tech giants can’t play by startup rules.(00:14:40) Metrics That MisleadHow measuring engagement drives harmful content.(00:20:01) Debate Fuels InnovationWhy creating space for disagreement leads to better outcomes.(00:23:43) Power, Politics, and PlatformsHow tech companies avoid regulation and the need for public input.(00:28:52) Inside Content ModerationKim’s Google stories and the need for democratic input.(00:36:46) Why Oversight Is So HardThe difficulty of encouraging informed debate in organizations.(00:41:37) Radical Candor TipsTips for moving fast without breaking what matters most.(00:42:52) Conclusion
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    44 mins
  • From Bottlenecks to Buy-In: Overcoming Bureaucracy 7 | 16

    From Bottlenecks to Buy-In: Overcoming Bureaucracy 7 | 16
    Apr 16 2025
    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:
    • 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
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    45 mins
  • How NDAs Protect Power Instead of People 7 | 15

    How NDAs Protect Power Instead of People 7 | 15
    Apr 9 2025
    When contracts hide misconduct, it’s not policy—it’s a cover-up.What do NDAs, forced arbitration, and emotionally manipulating teenagers have in common? Sadly, more than you'd hope. Kim, Jason and Amy rip the lid off the corporate culture of hush-hush harm, legal gymnastics and why emotional manipulation is a feature—not a bug—in some marketing strategies. They dig into the story behind Careless People by Sara Wynn-Williams, the book someone definitely doesn’t want you to read, and expose how companies use contracts to silence the truth and protect power—not people. From creepy ad targeting to leaders who dodge accountability like it’s dodgeball, the crew gets real about why “just business” is a lazy excuse for bad behavior. Kim even owns up to the time she played the NDA game—and why she’ll never do it again. Because real leadership doesn’t mean covering your ass—it means doing the damn right thing, even when it costs you.Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.Episode Links:Watch the episodeMeta Tries To Stop Sarah Wynn-Williams From Further Selling Scathing Memoir | The New York TimesMeta Tries To Bury A Tell-All Book | WiredRadical Respect NewsletterEx-Meta Executive: ‘People Deserve To Know What This Company Is Really Like’ | CNN BusinessCareless People: A Cautionary Tale Of Power, Greed, And Lost Idealism | Sarah Wynn-WilliamsLift Our VoicesLessons From A Whistleblower: Susan Rigetti | Radical Candor Podcast 6 | 44She Said | Jodi Kantor and Megan TwoheyCatch And Kill | Ronan FarrowEllen Pao: Tech’s Meritocracy Is Broken | Radical Candor Podcast 7 | 3The Facebook Whistleblower Book Mark Zuckerberg Doesn’t Want You To Read | VoxHow Mandatory Arbitration Weakens Workplace Laws And Lets Employers Off The Hook | NelpFacebook’s Secrets, By The Insider Zuckerberg Tried To Silence | The TimesSpeaking Truth To Power: The Cost-Benefit Analysis | Radical RespectJennifer Joy Freyd, PhD.The Best Bookstore In Palm SpringsConnect:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedInYouTubeChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionKim, Jason, and Amy introduce the topic of NDAs and forced arbitration.(00:02:11) Why Careless People MattersThe impact of NDAs and the importance of supporting the author.(00:03:17) Understanding Forced ArbitrationA breakdown of arbitration and its role in silencing workplace harm.(00:06:20) Emotional Targeting at FacebookA disturbing passage about targeting vulnerable teens.(00:09:43) Harm, Silence, and ScapegoatsThe role of toxic cultures and fear play in keeping employees silent.(00:17:40) The Measurement ProblemHow profit-driven metrics ignore the human harm they cause.(00:22:14) Loyalty vs IntegrityBalancing between professional loyalty and moral responsibility.(00:26:29) Kim’s NDA RegretA candid story of using an NDA to silence an employee.(00:32:40) Building Better SystemsStrategies for leaders to design accountability into workplace culture.(00:34:42) A Better Way ForwardWhy transparency and early action are more effective than silence.(00:38:02) Culture Is DesignHow treating culture like a product helps fix systemic issues.(00:39:49) Radical Candor TipsTips for eliminating NDAs, ending forced arbitration, and building trust(00:41:30) Conclusion
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    43 mins
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