‘We conduct an engagement study but never get around to implementing measures and changes.’

In our experience, we have encountered two groups of situations in which this tends to happen:
1. When there is a lack of support by senior management – what we mean here is not verbal consent and support but rather active involvement at the most senior management levels as ‘sponsors’ and chief driving force behind the project. Although HR is normally responsible for processes related to satisfaction and employee engagement, causes and decisions are often at the managers’ hands.

2. When the consultation phase is skipped. This is the phase where we set how the study outcome will be interpreted (what it means for the organization and how the studied factors influence business) and analysed (what the causes are).

We would work to improve managers’ understanding of their role and the factors affecting engagement. This can be done in a number of formats — from individual meetings and discussions to group workshops. We will provide clarification of the methodology used and together with all the people responsible for the rise in unsatisfactory results, we will agree on improvement measures. We will prepare ideas and good practices addressing the aspects in need of change. This way we will stimulate making good decisions and will add to the expertise where decision- makers do not feel prepared enough.