140 • 100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS
Employee engagement is widely seen as being vital to
improving business performance, effectiveness, and productivity.
Researchers at Gallup identifi ed several variables that, when
satisfi ed, form the foundation of strong feelings of engagement
(see http://www.gallup.com)..)
The idea
Business researchers at Gallup identifi ed 12 questions measuring
the effect of employee engagement, including such issues as
retention, productivity, profi tability, customer engagement, and
safety. These questions, known as the Q^12 , measure those factors
that leaders, managers, and employees can infl uence. The questions
are based on hundreds of interviews and focus groups, involving
thousands of workers in many organizations, at all levels, across a
broad range of industries and countries.
In practice
To succeed, it is best to work with a business that possesses
experience of administering and delivering Gallup’s Q^12 and can
advise on the key issues.
The questions below will help you focus on the challenge of
increasing engagement. Consider them either for you or for your
team, and rate your response to each question on a scale of 1 (low)
to 5 (high).