Workplace Stories by RedThread Research

By: Stacia Garr & Dani Johnson
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  • Summary

  • At RedThread, we love our data, but we know that what you remember is stories. So we spend time listening to thinkers, writers, leaders, and practitioners as they tell their stories about what works in the workplace, what they’ve learned, and what they hope to see in the future. We hope you find it inspirational, motivational, and a touch irreverent.
    RedThread Research 2024
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Economics Management
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Episodes
  • Why Social Network Perspective Matters with Greg Pryor

    Why Social Network Perspective Matters with Greg Pryor
    Oct 23 2024
    Could your network be the key to your career success and organizational growth? In this episode of Workplace Stories, we chat with Greg Pryor, author of the upcoming book, “The Social Capital Imperative.”

    Greg explains how social capital—our connections and relationships—drives business outcomes, sparks innovation, and boosts career growth. With the pandemic reshaping work, he argues that shifting from internal networks to open, cross-functional ones is crucial for success today.Greg shares practical strategies for making network-building accessible to individuals, teams, and organizations.

    He highlights how AI and technology can help unlock the potential of networks, focusing on measurable outcomes. His passion for helping organizations harness the power of social networks makes a strong case for why networks matter in the modern workplace.

    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
    • How focusing on people and networks—not just technology—drives workplace results [1:00]
    • Nine key use cases for network analysis, ranging from career growth to cultural change [2:40]
    • How Post Malone’s collaborations illustrate the power of networks in boosting success [9:00]
    • How “energizing influencers” like Dolly Parton can spark organizational transformation [14:00]
    • How the pandemic shifted networks from open to closed, impacting innovation [29:00]
    • Building networks for career growth, even without organizational support [39:20]
    • How AI can make network analysis more accessible and actionable [44:18]

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • The Social Capital Imperative
    • Organizational Network Analysis (ONA)
    • Amy Edmondson’s work on Psychological Safety
    • Rob Cross - network analysis expert
    • John Boudreau
    Connect with Greg Pryor
    • Greg Pryor on LinkedIn
    Connect With Red Thread Research
    • Website: Red Thread Research
    • On LinkedIn
    • On Facebook
    • On Twitter

    Subscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
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    47 mins
  • Redefining Learning and Development at McKinsey: Lisa Christensen

    Redefining Learning and Development at McKinsey: Lisa Christensen
    Oct 9 2024
    What if your L&D team could shift from merely delivering training to truly driving your company’s strategic goals? In this conversation, we talk with Lisa Christensen, McKinsey’s Director of Learning and Innovation. Lisa takes a refreshingly strategic approach, asking not just how L&D can support learning but “To what end?” She shares how her focus on outcomes over output has reshaped McKinsey’s approach to everything from people analytics to building a strong feedback culture.

    We also talk about why L&D should embrace experimentation, moving far beyond traditional course delivery to tackle big organizational challenges. Lisa makes the case for L&D to collaborate closely with People Analytics and Legal to ensure that learning initiatives aren’t just reactive but strategically positioned for future growth. Her “no regrets” actions offer useful, bold steps for L&D leaders, inspiring us to see the function as a driver of both human and organizational transformation.

    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
    • Why McKinsey's L&D team always starts with the question, "To what end?" [1:00]
    • The risk of L&D focusing only on short-term skill needs [15:00]
    • Collaboration with People Analytics transforming L&D's impact [18:00]
    • L&D teams losing their value by sticking to outdated metrics [20:00]
    • What it means for L&D to have an experimental mindset [31:00]
    • How L&D leaders can ensure their department's stability and credibility [37:00]
    • The “no regrets” actions every L&D team should consider right now [43:00]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Oliver Wyman Report on Workforce Future
    • McKinsey’s Learning & Innovation Center of Excellence
    Connect with Lisa Christensen
    • Connect with Lisa Christensen on LinkedIn
    Connect With Red Thread Research
    • Website: Red Thread Research
    • On LinkedIn
    • On Facebook
    • On Twitter

    Subscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • Mitchel MacNair: Crown Castle - Making Employee Development Strategic

    Mitchel MacNair: Crown Castle - Making Employee Development Strategic
    Sep 25 2024
    How do you turn a skeptical organization into a believer in the power of Learning & Development? We interviewed Mitchel MacNair, Director of Talent Development and Learning at Crown Castle to find out. Mitchel takes us on a journey from his unconventional background in nuclear engineering and the Navy to leading transformational change in L&D. He tells us how he reshaped Crown Castle’s learning function by aligning it with business strategy, building credibility through data-driven results, and elevating its impact across the organization.

    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
    • How Mitchel’s background in the Navy prepared him for L&D leadership [4:35]
    • Handling the loss of 50% of the L&D team within Mitchel’s first six months [6:20]
    • How organizational chaos impacts strategic L&D changes at Crown Castle [9:29]
    • Transforming L&D from "order takers" to strategic business partners [10:58]
    • The role of the principal designer in Crown Castle’s L&D success [13:20]
    • Collaborating with other functions to focus on outcomes [15:10]
    • Why obtaining business performance data early is critical for L&D success [18:17]
    • Demonstrating a 192% increase in services sold through L&D programs [23:00]
    • How Crown Castle developed their AI policies [35:10]
    • L&D’s role in Crown Castle's skills strategy and future talent planning [41:00]
    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Is Your Genius at Work by Dick Richards
    • Nick Shackleton-Jones (LinkedIn Thought Leader)
    Connect with Mitchel MacNair
    • Mitchel MacNair on LinkedIn
    Connect With Red Thread Research
    • Website: Red Thread Research
    • On LinkedIn
    • On Facebook
    • On Twitter

    Subscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
    Show more Show less
    44 mins

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