As a manager, understanding what drives employee engagement is crucial for creating a motivated and productive team. Knowing these key drivers not only helps you grasp what’s fueling engagement but also informs your next steps, allowing you to prioritise effectively.
This insight will be invaluable as you use the Action Grid to determine focus areas and plan actionable improvements.
But with so many factors to consider, where do you even begin? That’s where having a tool like Hive’s Key Drivers and Action Grid comes in handy. It’s designed to help you uncover what truly matters to your team and make smart, data-driven decisions that lead to real improvements.
What is the Key Drivers feature?
Think of Key Drivers like having a skilled detective on your side, pinpointing the main factors influencing your team’s engagement.
These drivers reveal patterns, predict outcomes, and identify the areas that need the most attention. Whether it’s management support, work-life balance, or career development opportunities, Key Drivers provide a clear roadmap for where to focus your energy.
Here are some of the key questions you’ll be able to answer by using Key Drivers:
- Should we focus on management training or improving work-life balance?
- What can I do to boost employee retention?
- To enhance engagement, should we prioritise career development or better benefits?
By comparing the relative importance of various factors, Key Drivers help you target the areas that will have the biggest impact on your team’s engagement and satisfaction.
What is the purpose of the Action Grid?
Alongside your Key Drivers, you’ll get access to your own Action Grid—your personal guide to prioritising improvements. The Action Grid breaks down which Key Drivers need your attention first and which ones are already working well, so you can focus your resources efficiently and see faster results.
Here’s how the Action Grid works:
Motivate your managers to use Key Drivers
For team managers, using tools like Key Drivers and the Action Grid is a game-changer when it comes to improving employee engagement. Here’s why every team leader should integrate these insights into their management strategy:
Actionable Insights, not guesswork: Managers often have a gut feeling about what’s affecting their team, but the Key Drivers provide data-backed insights that remove the guesswork. Instead of relying on assumptions, you’ll have clear evidence showing what truly impacts your team’s morale and performance.
Boost employee retention: Retaining top talent is a constant challenge. By focusing on the right engagement drivers, you can address the specific needs of your team before they become frustrations that lead to turnover. With tools like the Action Grid, you’ll be able to prioritise initiatives that keep your best employees engaged and motivated to stay.
Make data-driven decisions: Managers have a lot on their plates, and knowing where to start can be overwhelming. The Action Grid helps you streamline decision-making by highlighting which areas need your attention first. You’ll be able to allocate resources more effectively and make changes that have the biggest impact without spreading yourself too thin.
Increase team performance: Engaged employees are not only happier—they’re also more productive. By focusing on high-impact drivers, you can create an environment where your team feels supported, motivated, and empowered to do their best work. This translates into better performance and overall results for your team.
Personalised approach to leadership: Every team is different, and the Key Drivers allow managers to tailor their leadership and engagement strategies to meet the unique needs of their specific team. By honing in on the factors that matter most to your people, you can create a more personalised and effective approach to leadership.
HR leaders - make the most of Key Drivers
To unlock the full potential of Hive’s Key Drivers, it’s essential to include at least 10 scaled questions in your employee survey- a recommendation from our People Science experts. Why? Here’s why:
- More data, better insights: With a minimum of 10 scaled questions, you’ll gather enough data to accurately identify the factors that influence engagement. The more data points you have, the clearer the picture of what’s driving (or hindering) engagement within your team.
- Broader coverage: Including a range of questions covering different aspects of the employee experience—such as management, work-life balance, or career development—gives you a more comprehensive understanding of what matters to your employees.
- Uncover hidden patterns: Scaled questions allow for deeper analysis, helping you identify patterns and relationships between different engagement drivers. You might find that improving one area unexpectedly boosts another, giving you valuable insights for smarter decision-making.
By incorporating at least 10 scaled questions, HR leaders can tap into the full power of Hive’s Key Drivers to make data-driven decisions that have a real impact on employee engagement and satisfaction.
Making smarter, data-driven decisions
By using the Key Drivers and Action Grid together, you can easily identify where your team’s engagement is thriving and where it needs attention. This targeted approach allows you to allocate resources efficiently, focus on the right initiatives, and see real improvements in employee satisfaction and retention.
Remember: All key drivers influence your overall engagement score. They are the building blocks of employee satisfaction, so it’s essential to give each one thoughtful consideration when planning your next steps. Key Drivers will provide you with a clear view of what actions to take, but keep in mind that external factors and organisational contexts may affect these drivers. A good approach is to share Key Drivers with your team and discuss the output together, ensuring you develop actionable strategies that are well-informed and contextually relevant.
With these tools, you’re equipped to lead your team to higher engagement, better morale, and improved performance—all by focusing on what really matters. Ready to boost your team’s engagement? Let Hive’s insights guide you there.
