For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), driving employee engagement and improving performance is crucial for long-term success. One underutilized strategy is incorporating skip-level meetings into your performance management cycles. These meetings, where employees meet with leaders two or more levels above them, offer unique insights, foster transparency, and can significantly boost employee engagement and performance.

In this blog, we’ll outline the benefits of skip-level meetings, how to introduce them and share actionable tips for executives and employees on how to make the most of these interactions.

 

The Benefits of Skip-Level Meetings for Employee Performance

Skip-level meetings provide invaluable benefits by offering a fresh perspective on workplace dynamics. Research shows that organizations with high employee engagement experience 21% greater profitability and 41% lower absenteeism[i]. By fostering open communication through skip-levels, businesses can tap into these advantages and improve employee performance.

 

Skip-level meetings:

  1. Increase transparency: Employees gain insights into the company’s broader strategy, which leads to better alignment between individual performance and organizational goals.
  2. Strengthen engagement: According to HRM, Skip-levels signal to employees that their feedback is valued, increasing their sense of belonging and commitment to the company. [ii]
  3. Develop leadership pipelines: Employees can better understand the skills required for senior roles, paving the way for internal growth.

 

How to Introduce Skip-Level Meetings

For HR leaders or SMB executives looking to add skip-level meetings to their performance management cycles, framing them as a tool to enhance employee engagement and performance can resonate well. Start by:

  1. Pitching the value: Highlight that these meetings create more visibility for employees and improve the upward feedback loop, leading to a more engaged and productive workforce.
  2. Setting a structure: To ensure success, skip-level meetings should follow a structured approach. Define the purpose, set clear objectives, and ensure consistency in timing.

 

Tips for Employees to Maximize Skip-Level Meetings

Skip-level meetings are more than just opportunities for feedback. They offer a chance for employees to engage with senior leadership and discuss broader company issues, growth opportunities, and personal development. Here are suggested questions employees can ask an executive in a skip-level meeting:

  • What are the company’s top priorities for next year?
  • How does my team’s performance align with overall company goals?
  • Can you share more about how leadership sees our department evolving?
  • What skills or areas should I focus on to grow within the company?
  • Are there any initiatives or changes coming that we should be aware of?

By asking these kinds of questions, employees can not only gain valuable insights but also showcase their interest in contributing to the company’s success.

 

Tips for Executives to Conduct Effective Skip-Level Meetings

For senior leaders, skip-level meetings are a powerful tool for identifying employee engagement and performance gaps. To make the most of these interactions, executives should:

  1. Ask open-ended questions: Encourage employees to share their experiences and thoughts on the company’s direction, culture, and leadership.
  2. Provide clarity: Use the meeting to explain company strategies and address concerns affecting morale or performance.
  3. Take action on feedback: Whether it’s improving communication or addressing specific pain points, acting on the feedback you receive is key to building trust and maintaining high engagement.

 

Documenting Meetings and Feedback in Real Time

Collecting feedback from skip-level meetings and documenting them in real-time is crucial for transparency and accountability. Executives and managers should use systems like emPerform to:

  • Track progress from employee check-ins and skip levels.
  • Share feedback across teams, ensuring both upward and side-to-side communication.
  • Get a real-time pulse on employee engagement and performance.

Using a tool like emPerform, leaders can consolidate feedback, make informed decisions, and sustain an ongoing dialogue that drives engagement and performance improvements across the organization. Book a demo.

 

Incorporating skip-level meetings into your performance management cycles is an effective way to improve employee engagement and performance. By fostering transparency, enhancing feedback loops, and documenting real-time insights, businesses can develop a more engaged, motivated workforce ready to meet organizational goals.

For more on the benefits of skip-level meetings and employee engagement, check out HRM Online’s guide on conducting these meetings effectively. Additionally, see how higher engagement correlates with improved employee performance from Wellable’s employee engagement stats.

[i] https://www.wellable.co/blog/employee-engagement-statistics-you-should-know/

[ii] https://www.hrmonline.com.au/employee-engagement/conducting-skip-level-meetings/