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Skip Level Meeting Defined A skip level meeting is conducted by the manager one level removed (upward) from the workgroup with whom you are meeting. It’s a meeting with your direct reports … direct reports.

Why would I bother Numerous studies support the idea that there exists a link between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction, productivity, and financial results. A skip level meeting is a process of gathering feedback on those essential elements that contribute to employee satisfaction so that you can action plan to improve. It can also be a source of innovative ideas.

The Five Step Skip Level Process Plan - The first step will be to prioritize which work groups you will target for a Skip Level Meeting. In prioritizing your target groups consider the following characteristics:  Groups from whom you have received Employee Satisfaction Survey results which we would like to investigate further Groups from which you have received informal feedback which we would like to investigate further Group with a new leader in position Length of time since the last Skip Level was conducted

The Five Step Skip Level Process Conduct the Meeting and Record the Feedback Introductions Meeting Purpose and Confidentiality Statement Review Progress on Actions from last meeting Skip Level Questions Next Steps/Close Thank You

The Five Step Skip Level Process Analyze the information collected Reproduce the scrubbed notes in the Skip Level Action Planning Tool

Action Planning Complete the action planning tool ensuring that each concern has an action plan an owner and a due date

Report Progress Along with taking action on the feedback provided you need to ensure to follow up on your progress with the participants. You can do this by continuing to leverage the action planning tool by keeping it updated and sending it out 4 weeks after the Skip Level Meeting, 3 months after the meeting and 6 months after the meeting.

Summary Do not use a skip level meeting for the sole purpose of conducting a “witch hunt” on one of your managers. Don’t get defensive. Don’t ask the question if you’re not prepared to hear the answer. If you are not committed to taking actions and reporting progress back to the participants then DO NOT conduct skip level meetings.