How to report on HR culture and engagement metrics in the board room.

Struggling to get HR metrics recognised in board discussions? Fed up with culture and engagement not being recognised as crucial metrics for your organisation to follow? You’re not alone. The link between a thriving culture, high employee engagement, and business success is undeniable, yet integrating these crucial metrics into board packs remains challenging for some. We’ve created a short blueprint designed to change that, offering practical strategies to ensure culture and engagement are not just included but highlighted in your board’s discussions.

First of all, let’s look at the introduction to your HR metrics paper:

1) The why behind the metrics

Understanding the importance of culture and employee engagement begins with connecting these elements to your organisation’s success. Start by crafting compelling narratives that illustrate how an inclusive, vibrant culture and engaged employees align with your strategic goals and values. This sets the stage for a deeper appreciation of these metrics at the executive level.

2) Crafting an impactful executive summary

Grab attention from the get-go with an executive summary that underscores key insights on culture and engagement. Make sure it draws board members into the conversation, sparking curiosity and prompting interest into the data that follows.

3) The power of visualisation

Transform complex data into compelling visuals. Use charts, graphs, and infographics to simplify information and make it immediately accessible. Effective visuals are a quick reference, highlighting key trends, benchmarks, and comparisons which are essential for informed board discussions.

Now you have your intro sorted, let’s talk about the key metrics you should look to include in your board pack.

You want to grab the attention of your board, and really get your message across quickly and easily, therefore inclusion of the right metrics is crucial. We have found including the following metrics to be successful in sparking interest and debate at the board level:

• Engagement scores: Detail overall scores and dissect them by department or team, pinpointing strengths and areas for improvement and ownership for any actions.
• Cultural alignment: Utilise surveys or platforms like Trickle to share insights on employees’ alignment with company values and objectives.
• Turnover and retention rates: Voluntary turnover rates can be telling indicators of engagement and satisfaction.
• Diversity and inclusion: Showcase your workforce’s diversity and the inclusivity of your workplace culture.
• Feedback and action: Highlight how employee feedback through platforms such as Trickle has led to actionable changes and the impact of these actions on culture and engagement.

Incorporating these metrics into board packs goes beyond presenting data; it’s about leveraging the transformative power of employee voice. When culture and engagement are discussed in the boardroom, and employees can see that what they have shared with HR has shaped the organisation, then every employee feels valued, heard, and actively engaged.

And finally, here are some tips for writing effective HR board papers:

• Clarity and conciseness: Ensure the document is easy to read and understand, avoiding jargon and overly technical language – whilst you know what all of the acronyms stand for board members may not!
• Use of visuals: As we said above, incorporate charts, graphs, and infographics to represent data visually, making it easier for board members to grasp key points quickly.
• Focus on strategic relevance: Highlight how HR initiatives contribute and are directly linked to the organisation’s strategic objectives and bottom line.
• Actionable insights: Present data and analysis that lead to clear recommendations and actionable insights for the board.

If enhancing employee engagement and continuous improvement are on your agenda, Trickle is here to help. We’re dedicated to redefining how organisations listen to their employees, ensuring the voices that drive your workplace are heard where it matters most. With Trickle, empower your board to make informed decisions that reflect the true value and insights of your workforce based on realtime ground-up communication with our employee voice platform. Take a look at our explainer video for more information.