Four months preparing an engagement survey. Scoping, crafting questions, planning communications. Then three months later: "Our engagement dropped from 72% to 68%. What does that mean?"

It means nothing. Without context, without understanding, without empathy... that number is just a number.

At the HR Analytics Summit back in September 2025, Kerri O'Neill said something that stuck: bring the human and empathetic touch to data and analytics. We obsess over moving the needle, but forget the survey is a tool to understand how people actually feel.

Behind that 68% is someone brilliant at their job whose manager never acknowledges it. A team burned out from covering for someone who left six months ago. People who love their work but hate the open office layout.

People aren't spreadsheets, so lets stop treating them like they are.