Picture a workplace where people genuinely enjoy what they do, perform well, and even smile during Teams meetings. Sounds like magic? Not quite. It’s about employee insight – truly knowing what fuels people’s passion for their work and shaping the employee experience around it.

Employee isnight means systematically listening, interpreting, and leading individuals based on their unique needs and circumstances.

Why employee insight matters

It’s not just a nice add-on – it’s a strategic necessity. No organization can succeed without motivated and committed people. And to lead what really matters to them, you first need to understand it.

Without employee insight, organizations end up:

  • Leading by assumption (“all young people want to save the world, and every coder runs on energy drinks”).
  • Investing in the wrong things (“we’ve been fixing internal comms for years and nothing changes…”).
  • Losing people (“another company offered a higher salary, and that was the only reason to stay here”).

But with genuine understanding, you can:

  • Lead individuals, not just the crowd – because motivation, growth, and quality of work are always personal choices.
  • Build a culture where people want to belong.
  • Spark energy and enthusiasm without reinventing leadership buzzwords every quarter.

Just as customer experience relies on understanding the customer, employee experience relies on understanding the employee. Without it, you’re leading blind.

So, what is employee insight?

It’s evidence-based insight into what motivates and engages each employee. The goal isn’t to collect endless amounts of data, but to pinpoint what truly matters to people – and how those things show up in their daily work lives.

Three simple questions to start with

  • What motivates you? – Don’t assume. Leila wants career progression, while Pena values a great team. Both are valid.
  • How’s life right now? – Life always spills into work. Falling in love, a home renovation, or a new puppy – it all affects how people show up.
  • Where are you heading? – No crystal ball needed. Just ask.

Understanding these layers helps leaders truly support people in ways that matter to them.

How to build this insight

You don’t need AI or a consulting army. Start with:

  • Regular one-on-one conversations.
  • Talking about more than just project updates.
  • Using surveys that actually dig into meaningful topics, like the Siqni employee insight survey*.

The key is consistency – and turning insights into real decisions and actions.

Understanding isn’t a wish list

Employees’ wishes don’t disappear just because you don’t ask. By asking openly, you can make conscious decisions about what fits the culture and business goals – and what doesn’t.

Bottom line: less guessing, more insight

Employee insight isn’t “soft talk.” It’s a hard competitive advantage. It’s the foundation of leadership that makes it possible to build a successful, human, and sustainable organization.

“If you treat people like they make a difference to your company, they will.” – Jim Goodnight, SAS Institute

Ask. Listen. Understand.

Then lead accordingly. Or keep wondering why no one’s giving their best.

 

*) Siqni is an employee insight survey where each person selects the five factors most meaningful to them from a list of 30 that affect motivation and well-being. They then share how well those factors are currently met and how they should be met. This gives leaders clear insight into what truly matters most to their people and helps prioritize the right development actions. Siqni AI brings the latest technology and artificial intelligence into employee isnight, acting as a sparring partner for the future of leadership.