{"podcast":{"title":"Workplace Stories by RedThread Research","slug":"workplace-stories-by-redthread-research-3600959","podcast_index_feed_id":3600959,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/4800257/episodes/feed","website_url":"http://redthreadresearch.com/podcast","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/48f82915396d22a82e8e5b9b202f0df2.jpg","author":"Stacia Garr & Dani Johnson","episode_count":133,"summary":"Workplace Stories is a podcast for HR and people leaders who are tired of noise and need clarity that actually holds up. It is hosted by Stacia Garr and Dani Johnson of RedThread Research. Each episode features candid conversations with practitioners, thinkers, and executives who are navigating real decisions inside complex organizations. Not hypotheticals. Not vendor promises. Real tradeoffs, real experiments, and real lessons learned along the way. You’ll hear how leaders are making sense of skills, AI, organizational design, and culture when there’s no clear playbook and pressure to show progress is high. The focus is always the same: what’s actually working, what isn’t, and what leaders are doing next. Workplace Stories helps you make sense of complexity, build credibility with evidence, and move from ideas to action with more confidence. Want to be part of the conversation? Join our community for free and connect with others shaping the future of work. Learn more about RedThread Research here: https://redthreadresearch.com/home","last_synced_at":"2026-07-22T14:18:52.086994+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-stories-by-redthread-research-3600959"},"episode":{"title":"Transforming Performance Management in the Public Sector: John Barrand","slug":"transforming-performance-management-in-the-public-sector-john-barrand","published_at":"2026-04-29T05:00:05+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-stories-by-redthread-research-3600959/transforming-performance-management-in-the-public-sector-john-barrand","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-stories-by-redthread-research-3600959","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/transforming-performance-management-in-the-public-sector-john-barrand--71652875","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71652875/ws_126.mp3","summary":"In this episode, we sit down with John Barrand, CHRO for the State of Utah, to discuss an inspiring transformation in public sector performance management. John led a bold effort to overhaul Utah’s performance management system—moving it from a culture of “adequacy” and silence to one focused on learning, growth, connection, and accountability. John shares how he and his team achieved legislative change requiring quarterly check-ins, implemented management training, and shifted the state’s mindset around performance and development. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [01:16] Initial state of Utah’s performance management system [06:23] Value of continuous learning and curiosity in government [10:06] Defining the “why” for performance management in Utah [17:02] Risks and Resistance in Systemic Change [20:06] Quarterly employee check-ins initiative [25:59] Balancing fairness and measurement without alienating staff [34:28] Creation of a system-wide talent mobility program [40:01] Development of incentive structures and bonus allocations [44:22] Sustainability and future of the program Performance Management is a Sector-Spanning Challenge Performance management has a notorious reputation, often maligned as bureaucratic and misaligned. These challenges aren’t confined to just the private sector. Public organizations often face a wealth of bureaucracy and challenges that can inhibit transformation, compounded by a cultural tendency towards silence and an adequacy mindset. When John assumed his role in 2021 for the state of Utah, over 70% of employees had an “unknown” performance rating, and only 16% had received annual reviews. The pervasive culture of silence fostered disengagement and suspicion, and performance management, where it occurred, wa…","meta_description":"In this episode, we sit down with John Barrand, CHRO for the State of Utah, to discuss an inspiring transformation in public sector performance management…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2989,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/workplace-stories-by-redthread-research-3600959/episodes/transforming-performance-management-in-the-public-sector-john-barrand/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/workplace-stories-by-redthread-research-3600959/transforming-performance-management-in-the-public-sector-john-barrand.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}