Take away a snapshot of results — Survey results meetings provide attendees with a snapshot of Mercer’s overall survey findings. The results are presented in an efficient way that is interesting and easy to remember, making it easy for you to share information with leaders and other key stakeholders in your organization.

Identify dramatic changes —Results meetings typically call attention to any jobs that saw dramatic changes. If a job now has double the number of survey respondents, perhaps that job and those skills are in high demand. Alternatively, if a job sees a significant drop in responses, perhaps that role is no longer “typical” but has morphed into a new job. Being aware of these changes can help you plan strategically to support the talent needs of your organization.

Learn from experts — Hearing the survey owner and other experts in the field present the survey findings will usually provide further explanation and emphasis that you may not have from simply reviewing the results on your own. After all, the survey owners eat, sleep, and breathe their survey year-round. They know what to look for, understand when changes in data signify a trend and can alert you to changes in talent or rewards that may impact your organization.

Build your network — Survey results meetings often include Q&A sessions where participants are encouraged to ask questions. Benefit from hearing your peers ask questions or participate in Q&A sessions yourself. In-person events often have networking opportunities where you can catch up with peers informally, often gaining meaningful insights in a one-on-one discussion.