Member-only story
You ever work at a place that does the old annual survey deal, reports the results three months later, there’s maybe 1 day where people discuss the results, and then no one thinks about it for 13 months until there’s another “annual” survey?
Of course you have. We’ve all worked at those places because what I just described is normative.
Maybe a few joints (Silicon Valley!) these days are into “micro-pulsing” or whatever with NPS, whereby you get a survey each week about whether you like your work, your co-workers, and your manager.
That’s supposedly very progressive to do those “pulses” but the thing is, it’s still a survey.
And surveys are still a wreck.
Don’t believe me?
OK, let’s go to the professionals.
Surveys are a joke
A consultant, writing in Harvard Business Review:
When employees are asked to complete surveys, their responses can be shaped by social desirability bias — the impulse to present themselves in a positive light so their bosses will think well of them. The survey becomes an exercise in “impression management” rather than a tool for change, because respondents don’t want to suggest that they personally have a problem or can’t handle their work. Even when workplace…
