At Q&R, we know this time of year can feel like a sprint to the finish line – performance reviews, budgets, headcount planning, 2026 strategies stacking up. It’s busy, noisy, and relentless.
And yet this is exactly when you need to pause and listen. Because if you don’t check in with your people now, you’ll walk into appraisals and next year’s plan with blind spots. Engagement isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s the heartbeat of your business. If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
What engagement really tells you
Engagement isn’t about beanbags, beers, or free fruit. It’s about:
- Whether people feel they belong
- Whether they’re proud of the work they do
- Whether they trust their leaders and managers
- Whether they see a future with you
When you measure it well, you get a mirror held up to your organisation—strengths, gaps, and risks laid bare. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always valuable.
Why now, not later
Running a pulse at the end of the year gives you context for appraisals and hard data to sharpen your 2026 plan.
- Fairer reviews: If workloads, tools, or clarity are crushing a team, you need to know that before scoring performance
- Smarter planning: You’ll invest in the right places—leadership training, enablement, wellbeing—not just the loudest voices
- Retention hedge: Post-appraisal is peak attrition season. Engagement data helps you see where flight risk sits and act fast
- Credibility: If you ask now, act quickly, and share back within a two to three-week timeframe, you’ll show people their voice really counts
Why bring in external support
Here’s the rub: most organisations want to listen. But internal surveys can be biased, ignored, or left to gather dust because there’s no one holding you to account. That’s where Q&R comes in.
- Neutrality: People open up more when they know their voice is safe with an independent partner
- Clarity: We cut through noise to spotlight what matters most for your people and business
- Accountability: We don’t just hand you a report and walk away—we keep you honest, help you prioritise, and track action
- Experience: Having worked with leadership teams across sectors, we know what drives real change and how to make it stick
Think of us as the critical friend in the room – the one who asks the hard questions, nudges you back on track, and celebrates when progress shows.
Turning insight into action
Collecting feedback is the easy bit. Doing something with it is what makes the difference. Our Listen–Act–Share model keeps you moving:
- Listen: Quick pulse survey, targeted focus groups, honest conversations.
- Act: Identify the top three themes, agree on clear owners, and start small experiments.
- Share: Close the loop—tell your people what you heard and what you’re doing about it.
Rinse and repeat, and you’ll build a rhythm of trust.
What this means for 2026
When you embed engagement into your year-end process, you don’t just improve appraisals—you set yourself up for a stronger year ahead.
- You’ll know where to put your budget to get the biggest impact
- You’ll spot the leadership and culture gaps early
- You’ll build resilience by addressing what matters most to your people
That’s how you go into 2026 with confidence—not just numbers on a spreadsheet, but people who feel heard, valued, and ready to deliver
Final thought
At Q&R, we believe engagement is the best investment you can make in your business. It’s not fluffy, it’s fundamental. And as you head into appraisals and planning season, measuring it and acting on it is the smartest move you can make.
We’ll help you ask the right questions, hear the unvarnished truth, and hold you accountable for acting on it. Because that’s what keeps people engaged, loyal, and delivering their best – today and into 2026.