How Bureaucracy is Killing Innovation, and How to Fix it! - Michele Zanini

In this thought-provoking episode of Truth Works, organizational visionary Michele Zanini joins Jessica Neal and Bob Sutton to unpack the tyranny of bureaucracy and the bold promise of humanocracy. Co-author of the updated book Humanocracy, Michele explains why traditional management systems fail to inspire innovation, agility, or meaning—and how companies like Netflix, Roche, and even the U.S. Army are rewriting the rules.

Together, they explore:

• Why companies become bureaucratic over time
• The flipside: unleashing resourceful people instead of controlling them
• Radical models of leadership, autonomy, and peer accountability
• How culture is built through operating systems—not slogans

If you’re a founder, HR leader, or executive trying to unshackle your team from inertia and unleash real human potential, this one is for you.