1. Wily
.com

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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.