Gallup Q12 Survey: How Leaders Can Successfully Act On Question 9

The ninth question in Gallup’s Q12 engagement survey is, "My associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work."

This question assesses whether employees feel that their coworkers are dedicated to maintaining high standards. Teams that are committed to quality work are more effective, collaborative, and successful.

In this ninth of twelve articles on Gallup’s Q12 engagement survey, we unpack this important question by covering the following topics:

• What High-Performing Organizations Do for Q9
• Where Organizations Can Go Wrong on Q9
• Suggestions for Improvement
• Tips for Managers to Support Q9
• Tip for Employees to Support Their Own Engagement on Q9
• Bonus: Q9 Engagement Activity

What High-Performing Organizations Do for Q9

1. Set Clear Standards for Quality: Successful organizations establish and communicate clear expectations for quality, ensuring that employees understand the importance of maintaining high standards.
2. Foster Team Accountability: High-performing organizations encourage a culture of accountability, where each team member is responsible for ensuring the quality of their work and the work of their peers.

High-Performing School Example: Teachers work collaboratively, holding each other to high standards of quality. There is a strong culture of professionalism, where teachers support each other and share best practices for improving instruction. Peer observations and feedback are common, and everyone strives for excellence. There’s a shared commitment to ensuring that every student receives the best possible education, and everyone contributes to that mission.

Where Organizations Can Go Wrong on Q9

1. Lack of Accountability: If quality standards are not enforced, employees may not take responsibility for their own work or the work of the team, leading to subpar results.
2. Tolerance of Mediocrity: When mediocre work is accepted or overlooked, it can demotivate employees who are committed to quality and damage the overall performance of the team.

Suggestions for Improvement

1. Set and Communicate Standards: Clearly define what quality work looks like within your team and organization. Make sure all employees understand the expectations and their role in maintaining them.
2. Promote Peer Accountability: Encourage employees to hold one another accountable for quality and offer support when necessary to ensure standards are met.
3. Celebrate Quality Achievements: Recognize and reward individuals or teams who consistently produce high-quality work, reinforcing the importance of quality to the entire organization.

Tips for Managers to Support Q9

1. Lead by Example: Demonstrate a commitment to quality in your own work and reinforce the importance of excellence to your team.
2. Create an Accountability Culture: Hold your team accountable for meeting quality standards, providing the necessary resources and support to ensure success.

Tips for Employees to Support Their Own Engagement on Q9

Strive for Excellence: Take pride in your work and hold yourself accountable to the same high standards that you expect from others. Striving for excellence contributes to the success of the whole team.

Bonus: Q9 Engagement Activity

Q9: "My coworkers are committed to doing quality work."

Activity: "Quality Standards Commitment"

Goal: To reinforce the importance of quality work and ensure that everyone is aligned on high standards.

Instructions:

1. Team Standards Discussion: Hold a team meeting to discuss the importance of quality work. Review the team’s goals and define what “quality work” looks like in different roles.
2. Commitment Pledge: Ask each team member to make a commitment to uphold high standards of quality in their work. This could be done verbally or through a written pledge.
3. Quality Check-in: Set up regular check-ins to review progress and discuss any challenges to maintaining quality work.

Outcome: Team members understand the importance of maintaining high standards and hold each other accountable, improving overall performance.

Conclusion

Commitment to quality work is essential for success. By setting clear expectations, promoting accountability, and celebrating quality achievements, you can build a team that is not only engaged but also dedicated to producing the best possible results.

As we move through 2025, let’s make Q9 a priority in fostering an engaged and high-performing workforce. Stay tuned for next month’s issue, where we’ll dive into Q10: “I have a best friend at work.”

Need help with employee engagement? Contact us for guidance on measuring, analyzing, and improving employee engagement to drive better outcomes. Let’s work together to create a more engaged and successful workplace.