The Groove Effect

1. The Groove

At Behavioral Grooves, we’re exploring what it really takes for people to be in the "groove" at work.

Being in the groove is that state where work feels purposeful, energizing, and connected. It’s not about pushing harder or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about finding a rhythm that supports both performance and well-being. It's a feeling that work is good - not perfect - there are ups and downs, but, in the groove, provides an overall sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that makes one want to be there.

The opposite is the grind. That slow erosion of energy and enthusiasm when work stops feeling meaningful or fulfilling. When it is no longer fun or even "meh". When the daily to-do list starts to feel like a treadmill that never ends. The feeling that work has become more drudgery than fulfillment or has just lost its luster.

We find that people tend to have a gut feel and know when they are in a groove or not in a groove. We want to explore that to find out more about that experience and what it feels like for you.

This survey is designed to help us understand what pulls people into the groove, what pushes them into the grind, and the roles leaders and workplaces play in both. Your responses will inform our research, our podcast, and an upcoming book focused on creating healthier, more engaging ways to work.

Some responses may be quoted or shared (without identifying information) as examples in our work. By completing this survey, you’re giving us permission to use your insights in that way.

Thanks for helping us better understand how work can feel less like a grind and more like a groove.

Question Title

* 1. Thinking about your overall work experience, where do most of your days fall on the scale between being in a “Grind” or being in a “Groove”?

In the Grind

In the Groove

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 2. When you are “in the groove” at work, how strongly do you agree with the following statements?

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly agree	N/A
My work feels meaningful	My work feels meaningful Strongly disagree	My work feels meaningful Disagree	My work feels meaningful Neither agree nor disagree	My work feels meaningful Agree	My work feels meaningful Strongly agree	My work feels meaningful N/A
I know what success looks like	I know what success looks like Strongly disagree	I know what success looks like Disagree	I know what success looks like Neither agree nor disagree	I know what success looks like Agree	I know what success looks like Strongly agree	I know what success looks like N/A
I feel energized, not drained	I feel energized, not drained Strongly disagree	I feel energized, not drained Disagree	I feel energized, not drained Neither agree nor disagree	I feel energized, not drained Agree	I feel energized, not drained Strongly agree	I feel energized, not drained N/A
I feel like I matter to the team	I feel like I matter to the team Strongly disagree	I feel like I matter to the team Disagree	I feel like I matter to the team Neither agree nor disagree	I feel like I matter to the team Agree	I feel like I matter to the team Strongly agree	I feel like I matter to the team N/A
I can focus without conflicting priorities	I can focus without conflicting priorities Strongly disagree	I can focus without conflicting priorities Disagree	I can focus without conflicting priorities Neither agree nor disagree	I can focus without conflicting priorities Agree	I can focus without conflicting priorities Strongly agree	I can focus without conflicting priorities N/A
My skills are being used well	My skills are being used well Strongly disagree	My skills are being used well Disagree	My skills are being used well Neither agree nor disagree	My skills are being used well Agree	My skills are being used well Strongly agree	My skills are being used well N/A
I feel trusted to do my job	I feel trusted to do my job Strongly disagree	I feel trusted to do my job Disagree	I feel trusted to do my job Neither agree nor disagree	I feel trusted to do my job Agree	I feel trusted to do my job Strongly agree	I feel trusted to do my job N/A
Time tends to pass quickly	Time tends to pass quickly Strongly disagree	Time tends to pass quickly Disagree	Time tends to pass quickly Neither agree nor disagree	Time tends to pass quickly Agree	Time tends to pass quickly Strongly agree	Time tends to pass quickly N/A
I feel proud of my contribution	I feel proud of my contribution Strongly disagree	I feel proud of my contribution Disagree	I feel proud of my contribution Neither agree nor disagree	I feel proud of my contribution Agree	I feel proud of my contribution Strongly agree	I feel proud of my contribution N/A

Question Title

* 3. Which of the following are usually present when you’re in the groove? Click all that apply.

A manager who removes obstacles

Autonomy in how I do my work

Clear goals or priorities

Feel like I’m recognized for my work

Feel like my work matters

Flexibility in where and when I do my work

Feel like I can be myself at work without retribution

A sense of progress

Work that fits my strengths

Supportive coworkers

Reasonable workload

Feel like I have a voice and am listened to

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. How important are the following factors in helping you get into the groove at work?

	Not important	Slightly important	Moderately important	Very important	Extremely important
Clear expectations	Clear expectations Not important	Clear expectations Slightly important	Clear expectations Moderately important	Clear expectations Very important	Clear expectations Extremely important
Meaningful goals	Meaningful goals Not important	Meaningful goals Slightly important	Meaningful goals Moderately important	Meaningful goals Very important	Meaningful goals Extremely important
Feedback that helps me improve	Feedback that helps me improve Not important	Feedback that helps me improve Slightly important	Feedback that helps me improve Moderately important	Feedback that helps me improve Very important	Feedback that helps me improve Extremely important
Feeling connected to others	Feeling connected to others Not important	Feeling connected to others Slightly important	Feeling connected to others Moderately important	Feeling connected to others Very important	Feeling connected to others Extremely important
Control over my schedule	Control over my schedule Not important	Control over my schedule Slightly important	Control over my schedule Moderately important	Control over my schedule Very important	Control over my schedule Extremely important
Control over the work I do	Control over the work I do Not important	Control over the work I do Slightly important	Control over the work I do Moderately important	Control over the work I do Very important	Control over the work I do Extremely important
Receiving fair recognition	Receiving fair recognition Not important	Receiving fair recognition Slightly important	Receiving fair recognition Moderately important	Receiving fair recognition Very important	Receiving fair recognition Extremely important
Minimal unnecessary interruptions	Minimal unnecessary interruptions Not important	Minimal unnecessary interruptions Slightly important	Minimal unnecessary interruptions Moderately important	Minimal unnecessary interruptions Very important	Minimal unnecessary interruptions Extremely important
Confidence in leadership decisions	Confidence in leadership decisions Not important	Confidence in leadership decisions Slightly important	Confidence in leadership decisions Moderately important	Confidence in leadership decisions Very important	Confidence in leadership decisions Extremely important
Understanding how my work connects to the larger goals	Understanding how my work connects to the larger goals Not important	Understanding how my work connects to the larger goals Slightly important	Understanding how my work connects to the larger goals Moderately important	Understanding how my work connects to the larger goals Very important	Understanding how my work connects to the larger goals Extremely important
Paid fairly for my contribution	Paid fairly for my contribution Not important	Paid fairly for my contribution Slightly important	Paid fairly for my contribution Moderately important	Paid fairly for my contribution Very important	Paid fairly for my contribution Extremely important
My manager has my back	My manager has my back Not important	My manager has my back Slightly important	My manager has my back Moderately important	My manager has my back Very important	My manager has my back Extremely important

Other (please specify)

The Groove Effect

1. The Groove

Question Title

* 1. Thinking about your overall work experience, where do most of your days fall on the scale between being in a “Grind” or being in a “Groove”?

Question Title

* 2. When you are “in the groove” at work, how strongly do you agree with the following statements?

Question Title

* 3. Which of the following are usually present when you’re in the groove? Click all that apply.

Question Title

* 4. How important are the following factors in helping you get into the groove at work?

Question Title

* 5. Which THREE factors most help you get into the groove?