Maximizing Insights from Employee Engagement Surveys

Going Beyond High and Low Scores When Analyzing Survey Engagement Data

by Jason George

The Importance of Employee Engagement Surveys

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Employee engagement surveys have become a cornerstone for organizations aiming to gauge workforce satisfaction, productivity, and overall morale. These surveys provide valuable insights into how employees perceive their work environment, their roles, and the organization as a whole. High engagement levels are often linked to better performance, lower turnover, and increased profitability. In essence, understanding and improving employee engagement is crucial for the success and sustainability of any organization.

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Underutilization of Engagement Survey Data

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Despite the widespread use of employee engagement surveys, many organizations fail to maximize the potential of the data collected. Typically, the survey results are presented as a series of scores highlighting areas where the organization performs well or poorly. While this information is useful, it lacks depth. It does not identify which specific elements or data points are most influential in driving overall engagement. High or low scores alone do not provide actionable insights into what truly motivates employees. For example, the charts below show two simple, hypothetical survey elements. The graph on the top shows the responses given for how much employees like the free ice cream given out on Friday afternoons. The graph on the bottom shows the responses given for how employees view the cleanliness of the bathrooms at the office. The purple line in each graph is the actual engagement score for each of the employees.

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As you can see, even though employees clearly love their free Friday afternoon ice cream (all scores are high), there is almost no correlation (-0.13 is very low correlation) between their sweet tooth and engagement. Similarly, employees across the board viewed the bathrooms as in definite need of being cleaned (all scores are low). However, similar to the ice cream, there is almost no correlation (-0.20 is also very low correlation) between employee's disgust with the bathrooms and engagement. Don’t get me wrong, I am definitely not saying to take away the ice cream and leave the bathrooms dirty. All I am conveying is that these two indicators have no impact on actual employee engagement.

This superficial analysis (where the organization scores high and where the organization scores low) limits the strategic value of the surveys, leaving organizations without a clear understanding of the actual underlying drivers of engagement.

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Unlocking the Power of Advanced Data Analysis

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To move beyond basic scoring, organizations need to embrace advanced data analysis techniques such as correlation and multi-variable analysis. Correlation analysis helps in identifying relationships between different survey elements and overall engagement. Multi-variable analysis goes a step further by considering multiple variables simultaneously to determine their collective impact on engagement. These are just two examples of how organizations can really begin to dig deep into the data to determine what actually drives employee engagement in their organization. Methods such as these allow for a deeper exploration of the data, revealing which factors have the most significant impact on overall engagement. By identifying the elements that are highly correlated with engagement, organizations can focus their efforts and resources on the areas that truly matter. For instance, while a survey might show high scores in 'work-life balance,' the actual driver of engagement could be 'career development opportunities.' Understanding these nuances can lead to more targeted and effective engagement strategies. This comprehensive approach provides a more accurate picture of what drives employee satisfaction and motivation.

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Discover What Truly Drives Engagement

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Organizations must move beyond traditional survey analysis to uncover the true drivers of employee engagement. By leveraging advanced data analysis techniques, you can gain actionable insights that lead to meaningful improvements in your workplace. If you are ready to transform your approach to employee engagement and discover what genuinely inspires and motivates your workforce, contact me today. Together, we can unlock the full potential of your employee engagement data, leading to a more engaged, productive, and satisfied workforce.

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Feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss how to use these tools to help discover what actually drives employee engagement inside your organization!