Employee engagement is now considered one of the top three concerns for HR professionals, and for good reason. Studies have shown that strong rates of engagement directly translate to higher levels of customer satisfaction and increases in profits. However these levels of engagement and satisfaction are often difficult to gauge. That’s why some companies, such as John Deere, make it a point to take regular pulse checks of employee morale every two weeks. The thinking is that frequent monitoring of motivation levels will help management understand the health and functioning of their teams and make sure the company as a whole is running as efficiently as possible. John Deere’s marketing group has found that frequent, regular check-ins are a vital part of remaining competitive in the industry, and they’ve also been helpful in assessing the overall health and vitality of the team as it changes. When new people join the team or old members leave, the dynamic shifts. By keeping track of motivation and satisfaction levels, managers better know what might need to be adjusted. By monitoring the team’s morale, managers can understand if the team is performing to its full potential.