10 questions to ask AI to get the most out of your employee surveys

Employee surveys are an incredible tool that can be used to enact real, meaningful change. Surveys can help us truly understand employee sentiment, how our people feel about their work environment, leadership and overall experience within an organisation. 

With AI tools like Prism, interpreting and analysing survey data has become more efficient and insightful than ever. But for those using AI for the first time, knowing where to start or how to frame questions to get actionable results can feel daunting.

This guide offers ten practical questions to ask AI to enhance your employee surveys and make the most of Prism’s capabilities.

Related: AI and employee engagement: 7 game-changing integrations

Best practice for asking AI the right questions

AI’s effectiveness is shaped by the questions you ask. To extract meaningful insights, your questions should be clear, specific and aligned with your organisational goals.

Here are some tips to craft effective questions for your employee survey analysis:

• Focus on outcomes: Frame your questions to highlight the insights or actions you’re seeking, such as identifying gaps or tracking progress.
• Be detailed: Avoid vague questions. Instead of asking, “How are employees feeling?”, focus on areas like communication, recognition or wellbeing.
• Use timeframes and comparisons: If you have historical data, ask the AI to compare results over time to identify trends.
• Consider segmentation: AI can provide deeper insights when you focus on specific groups, such as departments, roles or demographic factors.

Now, let’s dive into ten practical examples you can use to get started.

10 questions to ask AI after your next survey

Here are just a few examples for you to consider and get the wheels in motion. Tweak and change questions depending on what you need.

1. Highlight areas for improvement in communication by department

“Can you review all survey questions related to communication by department and identify the specific areas where improvement is needed?”

This question breaks down communication issues by department, helping you pinpoint which areas may need support—whether it’s better internal messaging, clearer goals or more consistent feedback channels.

2. Compare this year’s survey results to last year’s

“Could you compare our 2024 results to our 2023 employee survey results, highlighting where we have made progress and where we should focus next?”

Tracking progress is key to understanding if your actions are driving change. If you have carried out multiple employee surveys with People Insight, you’re able to compare and contrast results in the blink of an eye. This question allows AI to surface improvements and ongoing challenges, giving you a clear direction for the future.

3. Recommend actions to clarify the organisation’s direction

“What actions can we implement to ensure employees have a clear vision of our organisation’s overall direction and purpose?”

Employees often feel disengaged when they don’t understand the bigger picture. By asking AI for tailored recommendations, you can align people’s day-to-day work with organisational goals.

4. Identify common themes in qualitative feedback

“Can you analyse the qualitative data from our last survey and identify common themes or concerns raised by employees?”

Qualitative responses provide rich insights but are often time-consuming to review manually. AI can quickly analyse open-text feedback, surfacing key patterns and recurring issues.

5. Highlight trends across multiple surveys

“Based on the results of our last three employee surveys, what emerging trends across the employee lifecycle should we be aware of, and what actionable improvements can you recommend?”

This question encourages AI to take a broader view, identifying long-term patterns and suggesting ways to improve recruitment, onboarding, retention and other key stages of the employee experience.

6. Analyse engagement scores by gender

“How does our employee engagement score vary by gender, and what specific actions could we take to address any disparities?”

By segmenting survey results by gender, you can uncover gaps in engagement and create initiatives that support equity and inclusion in your workplace.

7. Understand generational differences in the workplace

“We have a multigenerational workforce. Can you describe the average employee experience of each generation within our organisation and recommend ways to improve their work-life balance?”

Age diversity is becoming a huge area of focus for businesses across sectors. Different generations often have different expectations of work. This question helps you tailor your approach to meet their unique needs — whether it’s flexible working arrangements, career development opportunities or technology upgrades.

8. Spot signs of burnout or disengagement in open-text responses

“Within our open-text survey responses, do you see any warning signs of burnout or active disengagement?”

Burnout and disengagement can significantly impact productivity and morale. By analysing qualitative data, AI can flag early signs and help you act proactively.

9. Compare employee support levels to sector benchmarks

“Compared to our sector benchmark, how supported do our employees feel, and what steps can we take to create a more supportive environment?”

This question combines benchmarking with actionable recommendations, helping you understand where your organisation stands in relation to peers and what improvements you can make.

10. Improve manager effectiveness based on survey results

“Our survey data shows that employees feel they aren’t getting enough feedback or training from their managers. What actions should we take to help managers develop their people management skills?”

Managers play a key role in employee engagement — in fact, you may have heard by now, more often than not, people leave bad managers, not bad jobs. AI can suggest targeted actions, such as leadership training or feedback processes, to address gaps in managerial effectiveness.

Employee surveys are only as valuable as the insights and actions they generate. By asking the right questions, you can use AI to uncover meaningful data, understand what your employees need and drive changes that matter.

Prism offers a powerful way to turn raw survey results into actionable insights. By leveraging AI to interpret comments, spot trends and identify opportunities, you can make better decisions and create a better, more engaging workplace.

Ready to see how Prism can transform your employee surveys? Get in touch to enquire about our employee survey solutions today and start driving real organisational change.