18 Questions to Unlock Engagement

The brilliant People Science team at Viva Glint, that I worked with for many years, developed a reassuringly robust yet pleasantly practical model - The People Success Elements - to understand and articulate the 6 key drivers of employee engagement.

If you lead a team, here are 18 questions - inspired by the People Success Elements - that you can ask in 1:1s to unlock your team’s engagement:

🟠 Purpose (Why their work matters)

1. What part of your work feels the most meaningful to you?

2. What motivates you to do your best work?

3. Is there anything we can change to make your work feel more impactful?

🟠 Clarity (Understanding expectations & priorities)

1. Do you feel clear on what success looks like in your role?

2. Are there any roadblocks preventing you from doing your best work?

3. Is there anything about our team’s goals or direction that needs more clarity?

🟠 Empowerment (Ownership & autonomy)

1. Is there anything that’s slowing down your work?

2. Where would you like more autonomy or responsibility?

3. What support do you need from me to feel more confident in your role?

🟠 Growth (Learning & development)

1. What skills or experiences would you like to develop?

2. Do you feel like you’re growing in your role? Why or why not?

3. How can I support your career goals?

🟠 Connection (Relationships & team culture)

1. Do you feel like you have strong, supportive relationships on the team?

2. How can we improve teamwork and collaboration?

3. Is there someone on the team you’d like to learn from or work with more?

🟠 Wellbeing (Balance & mental health)

1. How’s your current workload—do you feel supported?

2. What helps you stay energized and motivated at work?

3. How can I better support your work-life balance?