Here’s what I’ve observed. Companies measure whether people are satisfied. Then they’re surprised when satisfied people leave.
Satisfaction tells you whether people are content with today’s conditions. Emotional connectedness tells you whether they are invested in where the company is going.
Best Practice Institute’s research finds the second predicts who stays, and who gives extra effort, more reliably than the first.
That’s not accidental. Contentment is a mood. Investment is a decision.
Most boards would call a satisfaction score a retention metric. It’s actually a mood check.
Here’s what that tells me. If you want to know whether the inside matches the promise you make outside, stop asking only how people feel today. Ask whether they are invested. According to Most Loved Workplace® data, Most Loved Workplaces enjoy a four times higher employee retention rate compared to the industry baseline.
More this week.
Get your free Most Loved Workplace® Employer Brand Report: Here!
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What is emotional connectedness?
The degree to which employees feel psychologically invested in the organization’s success.
How is it different from satisfaction?
Satisfaction measures contentment with current conditions. Emotional connectedness measures investment in the organization’s success.
Does the free report make a company certified or listed?
No. The report does not make a company certified or listed.