Traditional engagement surveys have become ineffective in driving employee engagement forward. While they provide some insights, they fail to boost engagement levels significantly. Currently, a minority of the global and US workforce feels actively engaged, while disengagement rates are on the rise, rendering current surveys unnecessary and costly due to inherent flaws.

One major issue is their underlying purpose. Focused initially on measuring morale, modern surveys attempt to gauge various aspects of employees’ commitment and well-being. However, this broad approach often fails to provide actionable information for improving engagement and organizational culture. Furthermore, employees may lack confidence in the survey process, having seen little change in results from past feedback.

With costs reaching up to $25,000 per survey and limited effectiveness, traditional engagement surveys are now obsolete, forcing organizations to find alternative ways to foster a more productive and satisfying work atmosphere.

Think Outside the Box, Not Outside Your Budget

Transforming the workplace into a more inclusive and diverse environment doesn’t mean you’ll have to break the bank or make a deal with a seedy loan shark. By prioritizing the intersection of belonging, purpose, and passion, you can cultivate a culture where everyone feels valued and motivated.

Instead of relying on conventional employee surveys and KPIs (key performance indicators), consider embracing nontraditional metrics. Today, employees seek validation, respect, and opportunities to make meaningful contributions. Nontraditional KPIs shift the focus towards how individuals connect, collaborate, and contribute within their work environment, fostering creativity, innovation, and appreciation for diverse perspectives.

While outsourcing surveys is an option, I recommend internal development to tailor KPIs to your organization’s unique context. Though establishing these new metrics may require initial investment in time and resources, the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. Here are the nontraditional KPIs you should integrate into your surveys to gain insights and enhance engagement.

Team Dynamics

Understanding team dynamics provides valuable insights into each team’s culture and interpersonal relationships. Begin by empowering teams to define success on their own terms without imposing your own interpretation. Encourage discussions with open-ended questions like, “What achievements did your team celebrate last week?” Recognize that each individual may define success differently based on their unique contributions and perspectives. By asking teams to describe the organizational culture in relatable terms, you can gauge their sentiments towards both the broader company and their immediate team. Over time, you’ll observe variations in the definition of “team success” among different groups. Once you establish each team’s baseline, you can guide them in refining their goals to achieve more victories.

Idea Generation and Innovation

In today’s competitive business landscape, even small ideas can spark groundbreaking innovations. Measuring the flow of new ideas within your organization will help to inspire and engage employees. Encourage reflection by asking questions like, “What insights did you gain from your recent project or experience?” This prompts employees to celebrate successes and consider opportunities for improvement. Foster creativity by posing questions such as, “What unconventional approach could you take in your next challenge or project?” This challenges employees and managers alike to explore innovative solutions. Incorporating idea-sharing sessions into regular meetings can seamlessly integrate this practice into your team’s workflow. By encouraging continuous learning and recognizing employees’ contributions, you can identify emerging leaders and mitigate attrition caused by limited growth opportunities.

Tracking Trends

Monitoring trends relevant to your team’s domain is another nontraditional KPI to consider. Whether it’s analyzing metrics, market trends, or customer behavior, staying abreast of emerging trends is crucial. For instance, in marketing, dissect customer data reports by asking, “What insights do these reports reveal? What gaps exist in our understanding, and how do these findings differ from previous trends?” Encourage employees to share observations and interpretations, enhancing data literacy and fostering a culture of collaboration. Employee engagement ensures that your team remains adaptable and responsive to evolving market dynamics.

Embracing trends focuses on everyone and empowers team members to dig into data, boosting engagement. Tracking trends as a KPI may reveal hidden talents like exceptional trend-spotting skills. Let’s revamp employee engagement, ditching outdated methods like surveys for innovative strategies. We’ll build a workplace where every team member can shine and contribute to our success. You can contact us or visit our Facebook for more updates