Has any research been done on the effectiveness of The Way Back in organizations?
To date, we have conducted a study of active The Way Back members, including leaders and individual contributors from various departments such as IT, Recruiting, Training, Finance, Marketing, and Sustainability*.
High level results are below.
Attending The Way Back gatherings has a positive impact on the level of workplace engagement of group members by:
In each of these areas, approximately 95% of participants agreed there is a positive impact.
Attending The Way Back gatherings increases engagement by creating a sense of belonging.
“It makes me think about how I interact with others and how I approach my work relationships. I am a pretty open and honest person but this group has encouraged me to share on a deeper level.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
Cross-departmental connection helps establish relationships with group members and helps them to better understand goals of different areas of the business.
“I have more familiarity with colleagues outside of my department and understand their goals and obstacles better.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
“It encourages me to invite others to join in on the daily ritual of starting the day of with inspiration, aiding in bringing multiple departments together to learn more about each other.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
Attending The Way Back gatherings increases engagement by helping members feel more ready to take on the day.
“Attending adds a confident ‘no challenge is too difficult’ state of mind.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
“The insight, philosophies and overall mood of the group helps me to set the pace for the day, both in attitude and goals.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
When asked what other ways the group impacts their level of engagement in the workplace, the major theme was the fact that the group creates a sense of community.
“This group has encouraged me to share on a deeper level." – Anonymous Survey Participant
"Attending the group introduces me to new people around the company that I normally wouldn’t interact with.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
“This group creates stronger relationships and connections in the office.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
Over 50% of participants agreed that attending The Way Back gatherings has a positive impact on:
“I had lost a lot of confidence in my last job. Attending has helped me with public speaking and to find my own voice.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
“The group discussions have helped me grow during a pivotal point in my career.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
Over 50% of participants have seen an increase in productivity due to attending the gathering.
“I feel better prepared to approach my workload knowing that I’m not alone in troubles and struggles I have in the workplace.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
“It encourages me to invite others to join in on the daily ritual of starting the day off with inspiration, aiding in bringing multiple departments together.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
“I have more familiarity with colleagues outside of my department and understand their goals and obstacles better.” – Anonymous Survey Participant
When asked in what other ways The Way Back gatherings impacted their skills, one common theme was listening. One member stated that the group “helps with communication and listening.” Yet another member simply stated, “Listening!”
* Future plans to expand the study include partnering with a local university. View the Full Action Research Report.