by Judy Johnson, Ph.D.
March 7, 2018
Through the adoption of the right technology, companies can measure and improve employee engagement better than ever before. Here are answers to some of the more common questions related to that topic.
Utilize cloud-based storage and sharing platforms to encourage collaboration. Tools like Microsoft Teams, Dropbox and Google Drive can help make teamwork quick and simple.
It shortens the time looking for shared files and keeps track of who’s in what file. This makes working together less frustrating. Employees can access files from anywhere and always know when someone else is working on their shared project.
By now, we have established the importance of feedback. Providing feedback and performance reviews for your team is an integral part of an engaged workforce. Unfortunately, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only 2% of companies are offering consistent feedback to their employees.
Employ technology with talent management software to enable giving and receiving of feedback in real time. On the spot feedback tools will make measurable improvements to engagement. It will motivate workers by regularly guiding them in the appropriate direction. This also encourages employees to provide feedback to management, and when employees feel their opinions are valued their engagement improves even more.
Talent Management software is the answer to this. It exists to help broaden the perspective managers have of their employees. Having access to more of what people are doing helps you give reliable feedback. It also creates an avenue for peer to peer feedback.
Two considerations when it comes to 360-degree feedback. First, do you want an off-the-shelf product or a customized tool? Off-the-shelf products tend to be less expensive and use preexisting frameworks for assessment. Customized solutions can be tailored to your organization's competency models and performance frameworks. Off-the-shelf is a cheaper, faster implementation, while a customized solution is likely to be pricier and more time intensive.
A second consideration is that 360-degree feedback is most useful when accompanied by regular coaching. Technology enables the process, but a 360 report provides little benefit to participants if they are left to address feedback on their own. In fact, research shows that a one-off 360-degree assessment can lower morale and performance, so be cautious when implementing this type of program.
Organization and Project Management Tools such as Asana and Basecamp, along with whiteboard and forums such as Slack, are helping companies to make social media a part of their day to day workflow.
To fully realize the benefits of these platforms start by focusing on specific areas where the tools would be most useful. After successful implementation expand to other areas.
The first step is to understand the effectiveness of current employee engagement programs and how effectively your company uses technology to enable productivity. Sign up for your free assessment to see how you are doing in these and many other areas and where you can improve.
Aspirant's AI-powered survey tool, Digital Discovery®, is the ideal solution for leaders looking for more actionable insight. It utilizes natural language process to automate the analysis of open text responses. This empowers employees to offer their perspective in their own words rather than limiting them to pre-selected options or a 1-5 rating. Dashboards help visualize results and track trends over time.
Use the form below to speak to our Organizational Effectiveness experts about how Aspirant can help your company leverage employee feedback into results.