AUA: Is Real Change Possible Inside Federal Bureaucracy?

From At Work with The Ready by Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin

June 8, 2026 · 7 min · Season 9 · Episode 23

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential for real change within federal bureaucracy and how advice for corporate sectors can apply to public organizations.

Most of the conversation about the future of work is aimed squarely at the corporate sector—growth engines, dual transformation, quarterly targets. But what if your organization exists to regulate, administer, and serve the public? What if the purpose isn't changing, and innovation of the underlying mission isn't really on the table? In this mini episode, Rodney and Sam respond to an internal consultant at a large federal agency who's wondering how much of the podcast's advice actually translates to their world. The answer: more than you'd think. -------------------------------- Ready to change your organization? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------- Mentioned references: The Ready's OS Canvas "Dual Transformation episode": AWWTR Ep. 43 "org debt" "user centered design": AWWTR Ep 42, Skill 2 Sound engineering and design by Taylor Marvin of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coupe Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

People in this episode

Hosts: Rodney Evans, Sam Spurlin

Topics covered

federal bureaucracy
organizational change
public service
innovation
consulting

Keywords

federal agency
organizational advice
public sector
innovation
consultant

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Ready, Coupe Studios

Books & works: Dual Transformation episode, org debt, user centered design

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49. How To Make Big Things Happen At Work · May 18, 2026 · 49 min
AUA: How To Lead When You Don’t Have The Answers? · May 11, 2026 · 10 min
48. Office Politics: The Fun and Frustration of Palace Intrigue · May 4, 2026 · 50 min
AUA: How Does HR Rewrite Job Descriptions for AI? · April 27, 2026 · 8 min

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