Posted June 23rd, 2015
If you’re reading this, then you are probably looking into launching your own employee suggestion program. At Corpell Anonymous Box, we’ve helped many organizations create successful suggestion programs, and have received our fair share of suggestions along the way. Based on our experience, we’ve developed these 5 tips to get you started.
1. Find a tool that works for you.
Of course we’d love for you to use Corpell Anonymous Box, but we understand that every organization has different needs (although we do offer customized solutions too). There are literally hundreds of solutions out there. Take the time to research and price all of your options. Make sure the one you pick offers up-front pricing and a free trial to test it out (all of our full-featured boxes are free for 90-days).
2. Get employee buy-in
Employee suggestion programs only work if your employees feel comfortable using them. Hold a meeting to discuss why you’re launching the suggestion program and offer sample ideas. If your reason is to save the organization money, tell them how that will benefit them (raises? better benefits?). If you’re using Corpell Anonymous Box, make sure they know that their responses are completely anonymous, and that they can anonymously chat with you about the suggestion.
3. Respond Immediately
It’s best to respond to – or at least acknowledge – a suggestion while it’s fresh in your employee’s mind. If you’re using Corpell Anonymous Box, you can anonymously chat with your employee if they provide their email address (which is encrypted and hidden).
If the primary person in charge of the suggestion box is out of the office, make sure you select an alternate so responses do not pile up unacknowledged.
4. Present ideas in a public forum
Regardless of whether or not you agree with the suggestion, get others to weigh in on it. Bring a list of your top suggestions to your group’s weekly or monthly meeting and let them decide. It may spark another idea that was much better than the first.
5. Take action
There’s no better way to prove to employees that their suggestions matter than to actually take immediate and meaningful action. That’s not to say you have to implement every suggestion – but if enough people think it’s worthwhile, at least put your organization on a path to achieving it.
Is there anything you would add to this list? Comment below or hit us up on Facebook.