At times, teams may view Friday Pulse as a place to just share their frustrations, expecting leadership or HR to solve them. However, Friday Pulse helps empower everyone to be involved in resolving the issues that they raise.
When teams review their Friday Pulse results each week, it's important for them to address any Frustrations as a group. This fosters team problem-solving and empowers everyone to be part of looking after happiness at work. Escalating frustrations to senior leadership should be reserved for issues that are beyond the team's control.
By creating a process for escalating frustrations (or ideas, celebrations, etc.), teams know that their concerns will be reviewed and addressed if needed. But establishing an escalation process can also help teams to consider first if they can control or influence any aspects of the origin of the frustration.
This having an escalation process also fosters transparency and reinforces the “you said, we did” approach, making employees feel heard.
Be sure to set realistic timeframes for action and feedback on escalated issues so everyone knows what to expect.
Without clear processes for addressing frustrations, employees mistakenly believe the frustrations they add to Friday Pulse will be picked up and resolved by someone else. When this doesn’t happen, it may make them feel that their concerns are being ignored. By introducing an escalation process, you're empowering teams to handle what they can, while still ensuring that larger issues receive the attention they deserve.
This method not only boosts team happiness but also aligns expectations between employees and leadership. Keep the feedback loop clear, communication open, and watch as teams start resolving their own frustrations and thrive.