MEASURING YOUR ORGANIZATION’S SAY FACTOR

1. All Work & No Say
MEASURING YOUR ORGANIZATION’S SAY FACTOR
Jody Urquhart

2. Defining the Say Factor
Simply put, your organization’s say factor is based on how
much say employees at all levels have in their work and
its outcomes. Typically, those in a company with the most
say also have the most power or control. Usually they have
attained the upper reaches of the firm’s hierarchy and have
set objectives, procedures and policies. Employees at this
level control through rules, information and resources. To
increase the say factor in an organization, you systematically
“spread out” some of that control to the employees who
actually do the job.

3. MEASURING YOUR
ORGANIZATION’S SAY
FACTOR
On the chart below, underline the level of
say your organization currently has and
circle (target!) the level you would like to
have.

4. Level Of Say Factor

5. Level 1: All Work & No Say
 The organization* creates objectives
 The organization tells employees how to
implement objectives (with detailed job
procedures)
 The organization controls and monitors
the results
*Note: the “organization” denotes senior executives in
top levels of the hierarchy.

6. Level 2
 The organization creates objectives
 The organization tells employees how to
implement objectives
 Employees are responsible for their own
results (all managers support and coach
staff to reach their goals)

7. Level 3
 The organization creates objectives
 Employees implement objectives
 Employees are responsible for their own
results

8. Level 4: A High Say Factor
 Employees* create their own objectives
 Employees implement their own
objectives
 Employees are responsible for their own
results
*Note: “employees” denotes personnel

9. Thank You
Idoinspire.com
The level of say appropriate for your
organization depends on how much control
you feel comfortable giving employees, how
well employees perform and how much
control employees want in their job.