How to Administer Employee Surveys in a Hostile Work Environment
Administering employee surveys in a difficult and hostile work environment can be a daunting task. Negativity and low morale in the workplace can create tough terrain through which to navigate. Remaining emotionally objective, creating a collaborative environment and communicating respectfully when administering the surveys can help alleviate hostility in the workplace.
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Instructions
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Commit to your highest degree of emotional objectivity. Decide before entering the situation how you will react to negative responses to your presence and the survey. If you encounter a situation that is negative and threatens to escalate, remove yourself momentarily to maintain your composure. If it is impossible to physically remove yourself, remove yourself mentally. Count to 10 in your head before responding, take three deep breaths or simply choose not to respond to negative comments. Although the goal is to ultimately create an open, healthy work environment, it is not your responsibility to acknowledge or validate poor and unprofessional behavior. Remember, you can only control your own behavior. Choosing to be positive and maintain control of your emotions can be empowering and will give you authority and win you respect within in the workplace.
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Ask the employees to take the survey rather than forcing it upon them. Negativity in the workplace can be diminished simply by allowing a variety of opinions to be voiced. This may be the objective of the survey; however, poor administration of the survey can undermine that goal. To promote openness and a team spirit, explain beforehand that the survey is designed to give everyone an opportunity to speak. Use words like "we," "us" and "our" to establish a collaborative working environment.
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Communicate openly and respectfully with employees. Simple rules from childhood apply: say please and thank you. Even if the survey is compulsory, employees should not be treated as if they lack feelings. Express appreciation for their cooperation and communicate the importance of the survey.
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