7 Effective Ways to Turn Employee Surveys Into Real Culture Shifts

Employee engagement surveys are more than just a check-the-box activity—they’re a powerful tool for transformation. Yet too often, organizations collect feedback without translating it into real improvements. The result? Disengaged teams, missed growth opportunities, and turnover that drains time and revenue.

However, when used intentionally, engagement surveys can ignite a cultural shift. The most successful companies are those that treat survey results not as a finish line—but as a starting point.

Here are 7 smart ways to turn your survey data into a springboard for meaningful change:

1. Use Data to Help Leaders Build Trust and Manage Better

Leadership is the cornerstone of employee experience—and it’s often the root of retention challenges. The National Workplace Trends Study (NWTS) reveals that 57% of employees would consider leaving due to distrust in leadership, and 52% would accept lower pay for a boss they respect.

Use your survey results to spotlight areas where leadership can improve in trust, transparency, accountability, and coaching. Then offer leadership development programs that equip leaders with the tools to build a strong character to act with integrity, coach and give meaningful feedback, and support career growth.

Tip: Launch monthly “Ask Me Anything” sessions to build transparency and give leaders real-time feedback loops.

2. Identify Strengths and Gaps Within Your Culture

Surveys should do more than confirm what you already know—they should uncover what you don’t. TheDestination Workplace™ Assessment helps companies diagnose blind spots and define what “great” looks like through the lens of the five culture pillars derived from the NWTS: Leadership, Culture, Growth, Team, and Well-being.

When you pinpoint both high-performing areas and experience gaps, you can align your efforts where they matter most.

Tip: Segment results by department, generation, and tenure to detect patterns and tailor your strategies.

3. Gain an ROI From Your Workplace Culture

Turning insights into action doesn’t just improve morale—it improves your bottom line. High-trust, high-engagement cultures produce 17% higher productivity, while toxic cultures can lead to turnover costs of up to 33% of an employee’s salary, according to NWTS data.

Companies that embrace the Destination Workplace™ model see real returns through increased retention, fewer absences, and stronger employee satisfaction.

Tip: Track culture ROI by correlating engagement metrics with performance, turnover, and employee satisfaction rates.

4. Improve the Overall Employee Experience

A better culture means a better experience—and vice versa. Engagement surveys allow you to enhance the touchpoints that matter most: onboarding, feedback, growth, and recognition. According to the NWTS, 42% of Gen Z employees are planning to leave their jobs within the next year. Why? Poor connection, no trust in leadership, to purpose, and lack of recognition.

The Destination Workplace™ process helps leaders map the full employee journey and improve every phase—from hiring to high-potential development.

Tip: Use survey feedback to build out a purpose-driven employee journey.

5. Create a Workplace Where People Apply, Engage & Stay

What makes people want to work—and stay—at your company? It’s more than pay. It's purpose, belonging, growth, and leadership that listens. When employees see their feedback spark change, trust deepens, engagement rises, and brand reputation soars.

The best workplaces don’t wait for an exit interview to act—they consistently focus on creating a culture built on today’s trends.

Tip:  Download the National Workplace Trends Study (NWTS) to find out what is trending for employees today.

6. Gauge Flight Risks Within Your Company

Most employee engagement surveys gauge engagement and employee satisfaction. The Destination Workplace™ Assessment goes beyond that to detect who’s disengaging before they walk out the door. Whether it's burnout, lack of recognition, or leadership disconnect, the survey you provide should reveal which departments have the highest risks of turnover so you know where to focus your efforts the most.

Tip: This isn’t just feedback—it’s a flight warning. Use your data to identify at-risk teams and take preemptive action.

7. Use Insights to Formulate a Meaningful Action Plan

Don’t let feedback gather dust. The most effective organizations tie insights to specific, measurable improvements. The Destination Workplace™ assessment comes with a roadmap that offers a proven process to align your team, analyze the employee experience in the 5 crucial areas, get insights into departmental flight risks, communicate your culture plan, and implement strategies that help you become a Destination Workplace™.

Tip: Consider getting certified as a Destination Workplace™ to attract and retain better talent, and stand out as the Employer of Choice in your industry! 

Engagement surveys are your culture’s greatest opportunity to grow. They’re not just a diagnostic—they’re a direction. When used with intention, surveys become a strategy to attract top talent, inspire your current team, and build a workplace people never want to leave.

🚀 Action Steps for Success:

✔ Conduct a Destination Workplace™ Culture Assessment.

✔ Offer leadership training programs that improve trust, coaching, and accountability.

✔ Introduce programs tied to recognition, growth, team-building and well-being.

✔ Apply to become a Certified Destination Workplace™!

Creating a winning company culture takes effort, but it's well worth it, and company culture happens to be our area of expertise. We help you become a Destination Workplace™ so you can attract and retain the best talent in this hyper-competitive marketplace. Contact us to learn about our leadership development, culture development, corporate wellness programs, and more!

The Destination Workplace™ Team

About Betsy: Featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC, Betsy Allen-Manning is a leadership keynote speaker, workplace culture expert, and best-selling author who helps executives and HR leaders strengthen employee engagement, improve retention, and prepare for the future of work. Betsy’s thought leadership and original research in the National Workplace Trends Study and the Destination Workplace™ framework equips organizations with data-driven strategies to build cultures where people apply, engage, contribute, and stay. She is also the founder of an award-winning company known for providing top leadership training in Dallas, and is recognized for advancing leadership excellence and driving workplace culture transformations worldwide.