The One Question Employee Engagement Test

Employee engagement is a hot topic in today's leadership circles. There is good reason, given that a recent study by the Gallup Organization indicates that just 30% of employees are engaged and inspired at work.


Language is a powerful indicator of employee engagement

Engagement differs from satisfaction; an engaged employee is more than simply satisfied. He or she feels a special connection to the organization. An engaged employee exhibits a high degree of "discretionary effort," meaning that he or she is willing to give more than is required.

There are many tools to measure employee engagement. Multiple-question surveys assess various dimensions of the employment experience. But I assert that one simple, subtle test will quickly separate the engaged from the disengaged. The test can be performed by anywhere, anytime and results are delivered instantaneously.  Administering the test is subtle, quiet and simple. It requires nothing more than your ears. Intrigued? 

Here's The One Question Employee Engagement Test: 

What words do you hear an individual use to describe his or her organization?

Listen closely to dialogue. Stay carefully attuned to the way in which an individual describes his or her employer. Do you hear "we, us, our team, my company" or "they, them, the company?" These are subtleties indeed, but language is powerful. Employees who truly feel a part of an organization and are highly engaged demonstrate it through the words they choose. What about those who usually refer to the company or their team by its formal name, such as "Acme Company" or "Operations?" I argue that these individuals may be partially engaged or at best, neutral in terms of commitment to their organizations.

The One Question Employee Engagement Test isn't a substitute for an annual engagement survey. It's important to look at various aspects of the employment experience to gain a deep and valid understanding of engagement at the organizational and work group level. That is best accomplished through a series of questions and a carefully structured analysis of employee responses. The One Question Employee Engagement Test can, however, serve as an early warning sign of eroding engagement at the individual level.

Try deploying the one-question engagement test on your team, your friends, or  your family members. Use it repeatedly over time to determine if it has merit. I'm guessing you'll discover that it does.

Formal employee engagement assessments have great value to measure engagement on a broad scale. However, every leader has an opportunity to quickly assess a team member's engagement by listening closely to the employee's language.  Open your ears and apply the One Question Employee Engagement Test. You may be surprised by what you hear.