Knowing Your End Game When Using Wellness Surveys

A few years ago, my affiliated medical school conducted a faculty survey, and not all the results were positive. That did not stop the dean from presenting the findings at an all-hands meeting within a few months. This act of transparency built trust and eased frustration. Sharing the data reassured faculty that they were not alone in their concerns and provided a foundation for organizational improvement.

At a 2023 Society of University Otolaryngologists (SUO) panel on faculty retreats, one key takeaway was clear: You only get one chance to get it right. The same principle applies to wellness surveys. Leaders must respect employees’ time, use their input meaningfully, and show a genuine commitment to systemic change. A survey should not be the end game but the beginning. Results should be shared transparently, with targeted task forces addressing key concerns and tracking progress toward improvement. Otherwise, we must ask: What is the true return on investment for these surveys? 

– Robin