A recruiter conducting employee motivation survey

Key Questions for Your Employee Motivation Survey

October 31, 2023

Reem Al-Tamimi

Reem Al-Tamimi

Content Writer

Employee motivation isn’t as straightforward as turning a light switch on or off. Yet, understanding the factors that fuel or diminish it is crucial. This is where the employee motivation survey becomes invaluable.

Did you know that the global impact of disengaged employees leads to a staggering loss of $7.8 trillion in productivity? When motivation levels drop, it’s not just an individual concern; the entire organization feels the effects. So, what’s the cause? Is it the offered perks? Alignment with company values? We need to find out.

With an employee motivation survey, you gain direct insights into your workforce’s mindset. It’s a tool to identify challenges, create solutions, and foster a more engaged work environment. Let’s take a look at the survey’s potential, understand its significance, and prioritize employee engagement for the betterment of your organization.

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Unraveling the Significance of Employee Motivation and the Role of Its Surveys

Employee motivation is the powerhouse behind a thriving business. Yet, only 15% of global employees are all-in, truly engaged at work. So, what’s the missing piece? Well, look no further than the employee motivation survey!

This tool is more than just a simple questionnaire. It’s a vital instrument for organizations that aim to thrive. Consider it a deep dive into the minds of your team, identifying what truly energizes them and what might be putting on the brakes. The results paint a vivid picture. When employees are motivated, they not only perform at their peak but also showcase loyalty, creativity, and a higher degree of satisfaction in their roles. Conversely, those lacking motivation can inadvertently dampen the spirit and productivity of the entire organization.

To put it simply, bypassing the insights offered by an employee motivation survey is a missed opportunity. By embracing this tool, you tap into a well of knowledge, empowering your strategies and ensuring your business doesn’t just operate but thrives. It’s more than due for motivation to step into the limelight and guide the way.

A survey is being sent to customers and employees

Types of Questions to Include in Your Employee Motivation Survey

Getting the most out of your employee motivation initiative begins with the right sample survey questions for employee motivation. Crafting a comprehensive employee motivation survey is a strategic endeavor meant to uncover layers of motivation. Let’s dive into the crucial types of questions that can reveal the genuine sentiments of your workforce.

Kickstart with Basic Questions 

Basic questions are the backbone of your employee motivation survey. They’re the initial steps that gauge the heartbeat of your team’s sentiments and feelings. With these direct, no-frills inquiries, we immediately tap into the core of the workforce’s mindset. They provide the launching pad, setting the stage for the more profound, more detailed questions to follow. Ultimately, they help you dive straight in and get the clear picture right from the get-go.

Here are some quintessential basic questions for the employee motivation survey:

  1. On a scale from 1-10, how satisfied are you with your job?
  2. Do you feel valued in your current role? (Yes/No)
  3. How often do you look forward to coming to work? (Always/Often/Sometimes/Rarely/Never)
  4. Would you recommend our company as a good place to work? (Yes/No)
  5. How would you rate your work-life balance on a scale from 1-10?
  6. Do you have all the tools and resources needed to perform your job effectively? (Yes/No)
  7. How clear are you about your job responsibilities? (Very Clear/Clear/Neutral/Unclear/Very Unclear)
  8. On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate the communication from management?
  9. Do you feel recognized for your efforts and achievements? (Yes/No)
  10. Would you describe your current work environment as positive? (Yes/No)

Beginning with these questions provides an immediate insight into the employee’s overall job satisfaction, offering a general overview before delving into more specific areas of their work experience.

An employee answering the employee motivation survey

Tap to the Inner Drive with Questions on Internal Motivators

Internal motivators are deeply personal and can often be the most powerful driving forces behind an employee’s drive and performance. These questions delve into the personal desires, ambitions, and intrinsic rewards that keep an employee going. Uncovering these can help a company align its goals and strategies with what genuinely motivates its workforce from within.

Here are some probing questions designed to tap into these internal motivators:

  1. What personally drives you to excel at your job?
  2. How does achieving a work-related goal make you feel?
  3. What type of project or task excites you the most?
  4. How important is personal growth and development to you in your current role?
  5. What makes a day at work fulfilling for you?
  6. Do you feel more motivated when you understand the larger impact of your work?
  7. How does recognition from peers and superiors influence your drive?
  8. What thing would motivate you to be more productive?
  9. Is there a particular achievement at work that you’re most proud of? Why?
  10. What role does continuous learning play in your job satisfaction?

Diving into these questions can offer a wealth of insight into the nuances of what makes each employee tick. When an organization understands its team’s internal motivators, it’s better equipped to foster a motivated, satisfied, and high-performing workforce.

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Uncover External Triggers with Questions on External Motivators

External motivators play a pivotal role in shaping an employee’s drive, complementing their internal desires and aspirations. These questions focus on tangible rewards, workplace environment, relationships, management styles, and other factors that are external to the individual but significantly influence their motivation. By identifying and optimizing these motivators, businesses can craft an environment that maximizes productivity and satisfaction.

Here’s a curated list of questions designed to pinpoint these external motivators:

  1. Are you satisfied with the benefits and compensation package provided?
  2. How would you rate the work environment and culture of our organization?
  3. Does the availability of growth and advancement opportunities motivate you?
  4. How do team collaborations and dynamics influence your work enthusiasm?
  5. Are you happy with the management style of your leader?
  6. Do company-wide recognitions and awards inspire you to perform better?
  7. How important is a flexible work schedule in influencing your job satisfaction?
  8. Would more opportunities for professional training and development motivate you?
  9. How does positive and constructive feedback affect your drive to excel?
  10. Are the tools and resources provided adequate for you to achieve your best work?

Exploring these questions can help a company fine-tune its external offerings and create a thriving ecosystem where employees not only want to work but are motivated to give their best every day.

Go Beyond the Checkbox with Open-ended Queries

Open-ended queries are a goldmine for gaining deeper, unfiltered insights into your employees’ minds. These questions move away from the confines of preset answers, allowing employees to freely express their views, feelings, and ideas. They can unveil specific concerns, suggestions, or feedback that structured questions might miss, giving organizations a comprehensive view of what truly matters to their workforce.

Dive into these thought-provoking open-ended queries:

  1. What changes would motivate you further in your role?
  2. Can you describe a recent situation where you felt particularly motivated or demotivated at work?
  3. What’s one thing the organization can do to enhance your job satisfaction?
  4. If you could change one aspect of your job or work environment, what would it be?
  5. Are there any additional resources or support you believe would help you succeed in your role?

Leveraging these open-ended questions will not only foster a sense of being heard among employees but can also uncover actionable insights that can be instrumental in driving organizational growth and employee satisfaction.

An employee giving his feedback

Decoding Feedback and Measuring Employee Motivation

Unlocking the full potential of employee feedback is an art that goes beyond mere data collection. To decode the feedback effectively, it’s essential to approach the responses with an open mind, actively looking for patterns, outliers, and underlying sentiments. Themes that recur can point to systemic issues or strengths, while outliers may highlight unique challenges or innovations.

Frequency is equally critical. Measuring employee motivation isn’t a one-time event; it’s a rhythmic pulse-check. A quarterly review strikes a balance, allowing for enough time to implement changes and measure impact while still being frequent enough to stay in tune with evolving employee sentiments. However, it’s also prudent to have feedback channels open year-round for any urgent insights or concerns.

Lastly, the true value of understanding employee motivations cannot be stressed enough. By tuning into what drives or hinders your workforce, organizations can create an environment that not only retains talent but also maximizes their potential. Acting upon these motivations, both intrinsic and extrinsic, ensure that the workplace remains dynamic, responsive, and aligned with employees’ aspirations.

Remember, a motivated employee isn’t just a happy worker; they’re an asset, contributing passionately to the collective vision and success of the organization.


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Author

Reem Al-Tamimi

Reem Al-Tamimi

Turn top talent to employees fast

Hire, assess, onboard and manage top talent for every job. See how Elevatus streamlines everything; from acquire to new hire.

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