5 Ways Polls Can Boost Your Intranet Engagement

Polls in the intranet are more than just a tool for gathering opinions – they’re a powerful instrument for dialogue, engagement, and data-driven decision-making. Here are 5 proven strategies for effectively using polls in your Staffbase intranet.

1. Quick Pulse Checks for Spontaneous Feedback

Instead of extensive employee surveys once a year: Use short, focused “pulse checks” for current sentiment snapshots.

Practical Example:

“How was your week? 😊 😐 😞”
Every Friday afternoon, 1 question, 3 answers
Results in Monday’s management meeting

Why it works:

✅ Low barrier to entry due to brevity
✅ High participation rate (often > 80%)
✅ Quick reaction capability to trends

With the Poll Widget, you can set up such pulse checks in under 2 minutes and automate timing.

2. Transparent Decision-Making

Involve your employees in decisions – this creates ownership and acceptance.

Use Cases:

🗳️ Office Design: “What color for the new break room?”
🍕 Cafeteria Menu: “Which dishes should be offered more often?”
📅 Event Dates: “When works best for the team event?”
🎁 Benefits: “What new benefit would you like?”

Best Practice:

Present 3-5 concrete options to choose from
Communicate upfront how the decision will be implemented
Share results transparently
Show what came from the feedback

3. Product and Feature Voting

Especially for product and IT teams: Let users decide what gets developed next.

Setup Example:

Question: "Which feature should be added to the intranet next?"

Options:
□ Enhanced search functionality
□ Mobile app improvements
□ Integration hub for tools
□ Personalized dashboard

Benefits:

🎯 Development aligned with real needs
💡 Employees feel heard
📊 Clear prioritization through quantitative data

4. Anonymous Feedback Without Barriers

Some topics require anonymity. The Poll Widget makes it possible.

Sensitive Topics:

Leadership feedback
Job satisfaction
Process improvement suggestions
Company culture

Important:

⚠️ Activate anonymization in widget settings
🔒 GDPR-compliant data storage
🛡️ No traceability of individual responses

Tip: Combine anonymous polls with open feedback channels. This creates a balanced feedback mix.

5. Gamification Through Regular Voting

Create rituals and make polls an entertaining element.

Ideas:

🏆 Monday Motivation: “What’s your goal this week?”
☕ Coffee Break Quiz: Fun facts about the company
🎬 Friday Film: “Which movie for the next team event?”
🏅 Team Challenges: Weekly sports or sustainability challenges

Engagement Boosters:

Regular rhythm (e.g., every Wednesday)
Visible real-time results
Winner announcements in news feed
Small “prizes” or recognition

Technical Implementation: It’s This Easy

The Poll Widget makes implementation child’s play:

Create: Drag & drop editor, no coding required
Configure: Single or multiple choice, timing, anonymity
Publish: Directly in Staffbase intranet
Analyze: Live dashboard with automatic visualization

Features at a Glance:

⚡ Setup in under 5 minutes
📱 Mobile-optimized for Staffbase app
📊 Real-time results
🔄 Automatic export (CSV, Excel, API)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Too many questions at once → Focus on 1-2 core questions

❌ Missing follow-up communication → Always show what happens with results

❌ Polls without consequences → Only ask if you can act on it

❌ Overly complex questions → Clear, precise, understandable wording

Conclusion: Polls as a Dialogue Tool

Polls are not an end in themselves – they’re the starting point for dialogue, change, and stronger employee engagement. With the right strategy and tools, your intranet becomes a vibrant communication platform.

Next Steps:

Start with a simple pulse check
Measure participation rate
Share results transparently
Iterate and optimize

Ready to launch your first poll? The Poll Widget is available in all plans – from Starter to Enterprise.

Additional Resources: