The hidden power of employee data

It’s not invasive, it’s not cheating, it’s just smart. Today’s best leaders are leveraging individualized data and analytics on employees under their care to make informed decisions on how to support them and how to be a better leader. Data is one of the most important factors in determining a leader’s ability to create and sustain an effective people-first approach.

To put your people first, you need to understand each of them as an individual. When you understand how someone operates, how they think, how they interact, what they prefer, and where their strengths and weaknesses lie, you have everything you need to make informed decisions on how to support them in the way that will create the most value for everyone on your team.

Sure – personal judgment based on casual discussion and assessment can go a long way. However, data and analytics take most of the guessing out of the equation when it comes to making decisions to support your people. Leaders using this data are substantially more likely to make an effective decision. Obviously, human beings are complex, and there is no way to know for sure exactly how someone will react to a leader’s approach, but with relevant data on your side, you are much more likely to see positive results at a high level, including:

Reduced turnover

Increased job satisfaction

Increased employee engagement

Better overall communication

Maximization of individual talent and strengths

Enhanced employee experience

Increased trust and confidence in your leadership

Put simply, an informed leader is an effective one that will drive results for their people, their team, and their organization. But, in order to truly call yourself an informed leader, you need to have the right data in front of you to begin with. Dignify provides leaders with exactly the kind of information they need to make the right calls for their people. Let’s break it down by tool:

Snapshot

Each Dignify user has a Snapshot. After taking a short, personalized survey, users are presented with a tool that defines their dignity in simple, yet insightful terms. Through the Snapshot, users discover their motivations, communication rules, language, tone, and more. The Snapshot enables users to put words to who they are and how they feel — teaching others how to treat you.

Leaders can view their team members’ Snapshots to understand how to communicate with them, how to motivate them, what their traits and tendencies are, and more. Using that information, leaders are empowered to make a plan to support that individual in a way that works for them.

Check-Ins

Check-Ins are a mutually driven, guided conversation that allows two people to connect with and understand each other on a deeper level using each other’s Snapshots. Leaders can use Check-Ins to provide their employees with a platform to define the elements of their Snapshot in their own terms and provide clarity on parts that you may be confused on. The information that they provide over the course of a Check-In is recorded and stored in the platform so that you can recall it when communicating.

Check-Ins are equally beneficial to the other participant, as they get the opportunity to explore your Snapshot and understand what makes you who you are. They are a simple, safe, and straightforward avenue for leaders to practice healthy vulnerability in order to build up their team’s trust, confidence, and loyalty towards them. When they have your Snapshot, your people can understand how they can tailor their approach to you, and help you find a happy medium where both your needs and their needs are comfortably supported.

Surveys

Dignify’s Survey tool provides leaders with the option to conduct fully customizable anonymous or transparent surveys. Leaders can then use the data they receive from this tool to gain real-time insights, identify overarching issues for the team, and take action based on the answers they receive. Tracked over time, leaders will see trends and realize the impact of their efforts and can optimize their approach with each new survey.

Data-based decision-making is the present and future of effective leadership. With job seekers and employees having higher expectations of their employers and leaders than ever, there is no more room to lead on a hunch or without proper information. A platform, which provides your leaders with all the information they need to support their team members, keep them around, and improve their performance, is a wise investment and will allow you to set your employer brand apart from the rest with substance, not just story.