What SONAR Is
From Signal to Action
SONAR is a diagnostic framework that measures the conditions shaping how people experience work and learning. It doesn't just tell you whether people are engaged. It tells you what's driving the problem, where it's happening, and what to do about it.
Built on decades of behavioral and organizational science, SONAR combines structured check-ins with continuous behavioral signals to create a living picture of each person's experience, one that updates as their world changes.
How It Works
Three Parts, One System
SONAR is built in three parts that work together.
Part I
Diagnostic Dimensions
10 scientifically grounded dimensions, the so called SONAR model, that reveal what's working, what's at risk, and why. Through brief, adaptive check-ins that reduce fatigue while increasing signal quality.
Part II
Belonging Layers
Four relationship layers that pinpoint where breakdowns are happening, turning a generic finding into an actionable insight. Measured through behavioral patterns, not surveys.
Part III
Signal, Nudge, Result
A continuous loop that connects diagnosis to targeted action, delivering precision interventions and measuring whether they actually worked.
Diagnostic Dimensions
What Actually Drives People
Ten dimensions that separate real diagnosis from surface-level sentiment.
Status
Whether people feel respected, valued, and recognized for their contributions.
Certainty
Whether people know what's coming and what "good" looks like.
Autonomy
Whether people have meaningful control and flexibility in how they do their work.
Relatedness
Whether people feel a sense of belonging and connection to the people around them.
Fairness
Whether people believe decisions, rules, and treatment are consistent and transparent.
Competence
Whether people feel capable and confident in their ability to do the job well.
Enablement
Whether people have the tools, information, and help they need to succeed.
Safety
Whether people feel physically safe and psychologically safe to speak up.
Workload
Whether people's pace and demands are manageable and sustainable.
Meaning
Whether people feel their work is worthwhile and something they can be proud of.
Positive Affect
Beyond the 10 dimensions, SONAR measures something that most diagnostic frameworks overlook: emotional energy. We call it Positive Affect, and it acts as a multiplier across everything else.
A person can score well on every dimension (clear expectations, fair treatment, manageable workload) and still be running on empty. When emotional energy is low, people disengage, lose motivation, and lack the capacity to respond to even the best-designed interventions.
Positive Affect captures this. It tells you whether someone has the fuel to benefit from what's working and the resilience to engage with what's being fixed.
Belonging Layers
Where the Breakdown Lives
Knowing what's struggling isn't enough. SONAR's belonging layers reveal where the breakdown is happening by mapping signals to four key relationships.
Identity
The relationship between a person and their work. Do they feel like they're in the right role? Does the work align with who they are and who they want to become?
Guide
The relationship between a person and their leader, manager, or advisor. Is the person responsible for their growth and direction actually providing clarity, support, and recognition?
Peers
The relationship between a person and their team or cohort. Do they feel included, supported, and connected to the people they work alongside every day?
Place
The relationship between a person and the organization. Do they trust the culture, believe in the direction, and feel the system treats people fairly?
These layers are measured continuously through behavioral patterns, not additional survey questions, adding depth without adding burden.
The Intelligence Loop
Signal. Nudge. Result.
SONAR connects diagnosis and belonging to targeted action through a continuous loop that learns and improves with every cycle.
Why SONAR
What Makes SONAR Different
A diagnostic, not a survey
Traditional engagement surveys tell you how people feel. SONAR tells you why they feel that way, where the problem lives, and what intervention will actually move the needle.
Adapts to the person
SONAR doesn't ask the same 40 questions every time. It focuses on what's most uncertain or most at risk for each individual, keeping check-ins short and signal quality high.
Works across lifecycles
The same underlying framework applies to employees and students, from onboarding through departure. The dimensions are universal. The language adapts to the context.
Says and does
Survey responses are one signal. Behavioral patterns are another. SONAR uses both, and pays special attention when they don't agree.
Closes the loop
Most platforms stop at dashboards. SONAR moves from signal to nudge to result, and measures whether the intervention actually worked.
Built on science, not buzzwords
Grounded in established models from behavioral and organizational science, including social threat/reward theory, self-determination theory, job demands and resources, psychological safety research, and meaningful work literature.
See SONAR in Action
Schedule a demo to see how SONAR diagnoses what's really driving engagement at your organization.