Custom questions: Formulating a good question

Well-crafted questions lead to clear, actionable insights. This article provides insight into best practices for formulating effective questions:

1. Keep It Simple

Use clear, straightforward language. Avoid abstract terms (e.g., "culture" or "sustainable employability") and ensure employees have enough knowledge to answer.

2. Be Specific

Define what you want to know precisely:
Wrong: “Communication in my organization is clear”
Right: “Communication from [Department X] to our team is clear.”

3. Use Positive Statements

Frame questions positively to align with the Likert scale (Strongly Agree – Strongly Disagree):
Wrong: “My organization needs to improve to meet customer expectations.”
Right: “My organization is improving to meet customer expectations.”

4. Keep It Consistent

Use the same tone and spelling throughout. Ensure questions fit the organizational level (e.g., “My role is clear”, “My team’s goals are clear”, “My organization’s goals are clear.”)

5. Avoid Common Pitfalls

• Leading questions
  Wrong: "What problems do you have with marketing?”
  Right: "How likely are you to work with marketing?”
• Double-barreled questions
  Wrong: “How well do team members communicate and collaborate?”
  Right: Separate into two questions.
• Jargon & abbreviations
  Wrong: “My team lead helps me reach my KPIs.”
  Right: “My team lead helps me reach my goals.”
• Self-assessment
  Wrong: “I contribute to my organization’s goals.”
  Right: “People in my organization contribute to its goals.”