Behind the Measures with Geremy Hurley
Behind the Measures is a podcast about public-sector leadership, quality, and accountability, and the work that doesn’t show up in dashboards, audits, or reports.
Hosted by Geremy Hurley, a public-sector quality leader and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, the show explores what it really takes to build systems, fix broken processes, and lead without formal authority. Each episode breaks down the gap between compliance and real improvement, drawing from real-world experience inside government and public health systems.
This podcast isn’t about theory or trends. It’s about the work, the decisions, tradeoffs, and accountability behind the measures.
The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not represent the views of my employer or any affiliated organizations.
Episodes
13 episodes
The Person Inside the System
What happens when the people holding systems together quietly start falling apart underneath the surface?In this episode of Behind the Measures, Geremy talks about the emotional weight carried by the people organizations depend on the mo...
Where Work Actually Slows Down
Most systems think they understand where work slows down.They look at delays, missed timelines, and backlogs and assume the problem is where the work appears to stop.But that’s not where bottlenecks actually exist.In this e...
When Measurement Creates False Confidence
Most systems rely on measurement to understand performance. Dashboards, reports, and metrics are used to define whether something is working. And because of that, measurement creates confidence.But not all confidence is earned.In ...
Activity vs Progress: Why Busy Systems Stay Stuck
Activity is easy to see.Meetings. Reports. Updates. New initiatives. Full calendars and constant communication.And when all of that is happening, it feels like progress.But in many systems, activity and progress are not the...
Why Systems Resist Change (And It’s Not Because People Are Difficult)
When change slows down, the first explanation is usually people.People are resistant.People don’t want to change.People are stuck in their ways.But in many cases, resistance has less to do with attitude and more to do with...
Leading Improvement Without Authority
Many improvement roles are expected to influence change without having the authority to enforce it.No direct reports.No control over resources.No final decision-making power.And yet, these roles are still responsible for h...
Why Clarity Matters More Than Effort in System Performance
When performance struggles, the instinct is often to push harder. Increase urgency. Add pressure. Ask for more effort.But effort alone rarely fixes system problems.In this episode of Behind the Measures, Geremy Hurley exp...
Why Consistency Matters More Than Innovation
Innovation often gets the spotlight. New initiatives, new tools, and new ideas signal progress and momentum. But in many systems, lasting improvement doesn’t come from constant innovation. It comes from consistency.In this episode of
Why Data Alone Doesn’t Drive Improvement
Data is everywhere. Dashboards, reports, scorecards, percentages. And yet, many systems with plenty of data still struggle to improve.In this episode of Behind the Measures, Geremy Hurley explores why data alone doesn’t drive im...
Why Technical Assistance Often Fails (and What Actually Helps)
Technical assistance is meant to help systems improve. It’s designed to build capacity, clarify expectations, and support better outcomes over time. But too often, it doesn’t work the way it’s intended.In this episode of Behind the M...
Compliance Isn’t Accountability
Compliance matters. It has a role. But compliance and accountability are not the same thing, and confusing the two creates real problems.In this episode of Behind the Measures, Geremy Hurley breaks down the difference between co...
Building Quality Without Authority
Many people doing quality, performance, or improvement work don’t actually have authority. No direct reports. No budget control. No final say. And yet, they’re still expected to improve systems, fix problems, and deliver results.In this ...