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A pulse is a set of questions that you send to a group of people. You can send it one time or in more than one run. A run is one send of the pulse, with its own participants and deadline. You choose the questions, the participants, and whether responses are named or anonymous. Windy sends each run to participants. People can respond in a web form in Windmill or in a chat with Windy.

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How a pulse works

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Creating the pulse

Describe what you want to learn, and Windy suggests questions. You can also start from a blank question. Then choose the participants and the anonymity setting. See Create a pulse and Questions and question types.

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Testing and launching

A new pulse is a draft. Nothing is sent until you launch it. Send yourself a test pulse first, then launch the pulse now or on a schedule.

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Collecting responses

Participants respond to the pulse before the run expires. Windy sends reminders to people who have not responded. Owners can manage the pulse while it runs.

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Reviewing results

Use Insights to see response rates and results for each question. You can also export responses or ask Windy about the results.

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Named and anonymous pulses

  • Named: Each response shows the name of the person who wrote it. You can follow up with that person.
  • Anonymous: Responses do not show who wrote them. An anonymous pulse needs at least 3 participants.
You choose this setting when you create the pulse. You cannot change it later. See Named and anonymous pulses.

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People and roles

  • Owners can edit the pulse, launch it, nudge participants, and see all responses. The person who creates the pulse becomes its first owner.
  • Co-owners are owners that another owner adds. They have the same access as the creator.
  • Participants receive each run and respond to the questions.
  • Managers can see their reports’ responses when the pulse’s response sharing allows it.
  • Admins and HR Admins can send a pulse to Everyone or to Groups. Other people can send to their own team or to specific people.
Anyone in your workspace can create a pulse. Admins and HR Admins do not get automatic access to pulses that other people own. See Pulse permissions and Owners and requester.

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Common uses

  • Engagement surveys: Learn how motivated, supported, and connected people feel.
  • Weekly blockers: Find what stops people from doing their best work.
  • Event feedback: Get feedback about an all hands meeting or an offsite.
  • Tools and workplace needs: Learn which tools, resources, or office changes would help.
  • Process improvements: Find repetitive tasks and pain points that you can improve.
  • AI usage: Learn how people use AI tools in their work.
The Ideas in the create dialog give you a starting prompt for each of these uses.

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Before you start

  • Participants: Only workspace members can be participants.
  • Anonymity: Decide if you need anonymous responses before you create the pulse.
  • Schedule: Decide if you will send the pulse one time or on a schedule. You choose this when you launch.
  • Sharing: Decide who else must see the responses. You can add co-owners and change response sharing after you launch.
Open Pulse surveys to create your first pulse.