Feedback Without Friction: Mastering Employee Surveys

Feedback Without Friction: Mastering Employee Surveys

From VHMA Manager to Manager by Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

November 13, 2025 · 31 min · Episode 80

About this episode

Michelle Gienger discusses effective employee surveys and the importance of building trust in the workplace.

Listen in this week as I sit down with Michelle Gienger , a seasoned practice manager at Village Veterinary Hospital , to talk all about the art of conducting effective employee surveys. Michelle shares her insights into how to gather valuable feedback from both vocal and reserved team members as well as how to implement that data without letting emotions get in the way. Michelle highlights the importance of building trust and creating a safe environment for employees to share their thoughts and ideas, explaining that she has found success in using a combination of anonymous surveys, live polls during staff meetings, and one-on-one conversations to get a well-rounded understanding of her team's needs and concerns. By introducing surveys gradually and making it clear that feedback will lead to actual change, Michelle has been able to overcome the initial hesitation some employees feel about speaking up, and she has learned the value of letting the team own the solutions rather than just presenting them with her own ideas. Balancing the serious, problem-solving surveys with more lighthearted, fun questions has helped keep Michelle's team engaged and invested in the process, and she…

People in this episode

Guest: Michelle Gienger

Topics covered

  • employee surveys
  • feedback
  • trust building
  • team engagement
  • management strategies

Keywords

  • employee feedback
  • surveys
  • management
  • team dynamics
  • communication

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Village Veterinary Hospital, Veterinary Hospital Managers Association

More episodes of VHMA Manager to Manager

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the VHMA Manager to Manager podcast page.