Performance-based incentives remain a powerful tool for employers, according to a live poll taken at SXSW Eco—the inaugural sustainability-focused event currently residing at the Hilton Austin.

During the session "Trends and Strategies: Employee Engagement and Sustainability," hundreds of attendees participated in a poll, devised by panelist Jim Walker, director of sustainability at the University of Texas at Austin, using polleverywhere.com, which sought to identify the top two trends that influence employee engagement. Attendees responded via smartphone or laptop with text messages and Twitter.

The figures, fluctuating as votes were cast, stabilized to reveal a valuable conclusion. The following results showed the top trends influencing employee engagement.

• 24 percent employee-driven initiatives
• 21 percent performance-based incentives
• 15 percent digital tools
• 15 percent social recognition
• 13 percent face-to-face interaction
• 9 percent talent demands it
• 3 percent other

Earlier, another poll during the same session showed how employee engagement is driven at attendees' companies.

• 40 percent top-down
• 36 percent employee-driven
• 9 percent digital
• 8 percent face-to-face
• 7 percent other

This impressive session included a wealth of insightful panelists in addition to Walker: Andrew Bryson, vice president of Saatchi & Saatchi S; Lee Matecko, global vice president of store development for Whole Foods Market; Erin Meezan, vice president of sustainability for Interface Inc.; and Tim Mohin, director of corporate responsibility for AMD.