Mike McDonald is Director of Engagement for Gallup's consumer outbound interviewing division. He joined Gallup as an interviewing manager in February 1990 and assumed his current responsibilities in 1998. In his role, McDonald leads and consults on interviewer engagement strategies with Gallup’s five nationwide call centers.
McDonald works with a team of engagement specialist/managers and partners with Gallup’s interviewing trainers and recruiters. They work together to align efforts and strategies that result in high levels of retention and engagement of Gallup’s interviewers from the moment they first encounter Gallup. McDonald is committed to ensuring that all Gallup interviewing associates have opportunities to use their talents and strengths every day in a way that benefits and develops them personally and professionally.
Over the past 7 years, McDonald has used measurement, recognition, forecasting, and aligned strategies to decrease annual interviewer turnover by 120% and increase tenure from an average of 1 year to 2.5 years. During the same period, workplace engagement scores for Gallup’s interviewing centers have risen 12%, placing them in the top quartile in Gallup’s nationwide employee engagement ranking.
McDonald received his bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s degree in human resource development from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.