You may think the top reason for employee resignation is low salary or lack of benefits. But employees claim that toxic company culture is 10.4 times more important than these factors. So how do you establish if your company culture is toxic?
Yearly reviews used to be the go-to for most companies. The problem with this method is that it costs time (which could have been devoted to implementing changes!)
Instead of waiting for your best employees to jump ship, learn how to use pulse surveys to gather valuable feedback effectively!
What is a pulse survey?
Pulse surveys are informal and quick, perfect for gauging how employees feel. They usually consist of a few brief but focused survey questions. Questions can be as simple as asking employees to rate their happiness on a scale of 1 to 10.
But pulse survey questions can dig even deeper to focus on career progression or work-life balance. Employees can answer these surveys with just a few clicks, making them easy to implement regularly. And regular, honest feedback is the backbone of a positive work environment!
Types of pulse surveys
Determining what you want to measure is the key to getting effective feedback. Pulse surveys are the perfect solution for many situations, but establishing clear goals is essential. Here are a few ideas for your first pulse survey:
- Wellness
- Diversity
- Safety
- Work-life balance
- Job satisfaction
- Engagement
- Leadership
- Compensation and benefits
- Internal communications
You can even include a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions to get a clearer picture. The sky is the limit when it comes to pulse surveys! Just try to cap it at 5 to 10 questions to ensure maximum engagement.
Employee Net Promotor Score (eNPS)
Another invaluable function of a pulse survey is calculating your eNPS score. The eNPS score measures employee engagement and happiness. It consists of two questions:
- Rate how likely you would be to recommend this company to a friend
- Explain why you chose this rating
Using the first question, you can effortlessly sort your employees into:
- Promoters
- Passives
- Detractors
The second question reveals essential keywords that might be detracting from the employee experience. This data is vital for raising your eNPS score and increasing employee satisfaction. But it isn't enough to just gather feedback through pulse surveys.
You then need to take that information and put it into practice. For example, if you spot the word compensation multiple times, it might be a good idea to update your salary policies. Company culture doesn't change overnight, but demonstrating a willingness to listen and act can help.
Benefits of using an Employee Pulse Survey
Pulse surveys are easier and more time-efficient for you and your employees. But they have several other benefits that can massively transform your company culture!
Instant feedback
Instead of waiting for a yearly, quarterly, or even weekly review, you get an answer right away. Let's say you have your usual Monday morning meeting, but your team seems less than enthused. Send a quick pulse survey asking them to rate the meeting.
Of course, this is a simplified example of pulse surveys. But it can help you get to the bottom of what's not working and how to fix it fast. Just keep in mind that too much feedback can become overwhelming for everyone involved (so try not to send one after every meeting!)
High response rate
Imagine this: you receive two emails; one has a single question, while the other is six paragraphs long. Which one do you reply to first? We all know the answer to that one!
Scientists believe that our attention spans are now limited to 8 seconds. Simply put, faster is easier. Because pulse surveys are so brief, they're more likely to have a higher response rate than lengthy versions.
Continuous improvement
A huge factor of company culture should be continuous improvement. The only way to achieve that is through regular feedback from the people participating in it! You can't achieve continuous improvement if you're only identifying issues once a year.
Current insights
Knowing what's going on in real-time can be a major benefit. Pulse surveys are a quick way to address urgent matters and get instant feedback. This can be especially important after implementing a new program or policy within the company.
Greater employee satisfaction
Employee satisfaction means higher productivity, engagement, and a more proactive workforce. Employees become more motivated to contribute to the company when they feel their voice is heard. And pulse surveys are an ideal solution for opening up conversations about workplace satisfaction.
Increased employee engagement
We know that highly-engaged employees are more productive, less stressed, and better motivated. But only 34% of employees are actually engaged in their workplace. The three factors determining engagement center around:
- Transparency of expectations
- Opportunities for growth
- Opinions were taken into account
Pulse surveys can target these factors through pointed questions and follow-up actions. Using them wisely can then lead to a more engaged team!
Creating a pulse survey
It's a good idea to begin by looking at what's going on in the company before setting your goal. Maybe you recently restructured, or a new wellness program launched last week. Pulse surveys are excellent for tracking reactions to significant company changes.
Once you've narrowed down your goals and focus, it's time to create! As you launch your first pulse survey, keep these best practices in mind:
- Keep questions brief and focused on one topic
- Use real-life examples
- Make surveys fun and easy to interact with
- Keep surveys informal and conversational
- Be honest about the purpose of your survey
- Allow anonymity for candid responses
The simplest way to check every box and see successful results is to use a well-designed platform. We offer an intuitive, streamlined eNPS and Pulse Survey platform. Customize questions, get real-time answers, and track the results.
You can select specific demographics, schedule ongoing surveys, and create full-length surveys (when needed!) Then receive the findings in a set of easy-to-read, interactive charts and graphs. Quickly identify critical drivers and create an action plan with the information.
Keeping your finger on the pulse
Facilitating open communication with employees can be tough. And yearly feedback surveys with their cumbersome questions and too little, too late approach aren't enough.
Pulse surveys are an ideal alternative for gathering valuable real-time data. It can mean the difference between toxic workplace culture and fostering engagement and satisfaction!
Ready to make the switch? Request a demo or get in touch today to see how we can help!
