Standing at a crossroads and determining which direction to walk is a metaphor for life. Its also apt when describing how to select the best 360 review technologies. Arguably this article will help you find your way.

The 360 degree feedbackprocess typically works best with a two-step implementation, starting with developmental feedback and then migrating to performance management. After employees have used the process for development and like it, they naturally ask for the process to be applied to pay and performance decisions. The multisource assessment process is such a significant change in the performance model that incremental applications enhance users’ understanding. Users usually readily accept multisource systems through this approach. Data collection for 360 degree appraisals should include safeguards so that the source of individual feedback is not identifiable in any manner to the employee. Using an inappropriate mode of collecting feedback, such as a telephone survey that does not ensure respondent anonymity, predictably creates data errors and undermines process integrity. If respondents do not feel the information they provide is absolutely secure, they may either refuse to participate or provide uniformly inflated evaluations. Data is described as 360 degree feedbackwhen it is gathering ratings and opinions from all around you in an organisation. Emotions can be high and defensiveness and justification are clear strategies of choice during some feedback sessions. The skills of a facilitator mean that some key issues are aired and discussed that may have previously been hidden. Performing a 360 degree review used to be a complex and expensive process, many times involving outside consultants and lots of company time. But technology and online surveys have made it increasingly easy to apply this effective tool to more members of your team. The 360 feedback system shows the subject the differences between how they see themselves and how others see them. This increases their self-awareness which means that the subject is more conscious of their personality, strengths, weakness, beliefs, motivations etc. With this information they can adjust their behaviour and identify their training needs. Consequently, the subject can become more effective in their role and for the role they may be aiming for. Agree upon a minimum number of 360 degree raters beforehand to establish and protect rater anonymity. The usual bar is having at least five raters across respondent groups to complete the feedback process that is shared with the individual. Additionally, ensure that employees and their raters feel the process to be fair and can thus expect to be rated honestly.

Once an organization has selected the application for 360 degree feedbackand designed a competency-based survey, it can begin putting the feedback process in motion. Implementation, however, is more than just handing out surveys and pencils. It encompasses many elements, from selecting evaluation teams to implementing action plans. 360-degree feedback is impossible without reviewees (those who receive feedback) and reviewers (those who give feedback by filling out questionnaires). While it’s easy to create a list of reviewees as you usually know who is going to get feedback in your planned 360-degree review, there may be difficulties with selecting reviewers for each reviewee. 360 degree feedbackis usually completed as part of a performance management cycle. These are typically in line with half and full year appraisals. In some instances, feedback may also be obtained from a range of wider parties including internal customers and suppliers. 360 degree feedbackshould be conducted every quarter and make up part of the overall appraisal process but shouldn’t be used to wholey measure performance. A 360 degree feedbackis about an individual’s competencies, therefore this is a tool to help both the manager and the employee assess their strengths and weaknesses which gives them the basis for development and that can be analysed over the period of a year and worked upon each quarter. Making sense of 360 feedback software eventually allows for personal and organisational performance development.

Critical Competencies

Using a 360 degree feedbacksystem for Performance Appraisal is a common practice, but not always a good idea. It is difficult to properly structure a 360 feedback process that creates an atmosphere of trust when you use 360 evaluations to measure performance. Multi-rater surveys, such as the 360 degree review, offer individuals and organizations a unique opportunity for holistic, advanced feedback. To capitalize on the opportunity, the organization must clearly define the objectives, train the raters, and design a process that encourages open discussion. Therefore, one must check for feedback readiness, be clear about the objectives, and systematically initiate the process. In a 360 degree review, respondents give contradictory feedback, or if a review includes rating questions, set ratings without thinking. This shortcoming can be solved by notifying reviewers about an upcoming feedback campaign and its goals, as well as training reviewers on how to give feedback. The 360-degree approach recognizes that little change can be expected without feedback, and that different constituencies are a source of rich and useful information to help managers guide their behavior. For instance, a subordinate’s perspective likely will be distinctly different from that of the supervisor, who is traditionally charged with evaluating a manager‘s performance. You want to implement 360 degree feedbackand you know now how to do it well. You can manage that yourself for sure but, is that the best way of managing 360 degree feedback? And perhaps more importantly, will you really make the difference you want to make in the organisation this way? Use 360 degree feedbackas an excuse and a tool to progress the real conversations you want to have. This chapter shows you how to use 360 as a leadership tool. People need to feel in control of their destiny - that is why a clear understanding of what is 360 degree feedback is important to any forward thinking organisation.

In addition to the start date and end date of the 360 degree review, you may need a date for the end of the selection of reviewers by reviewees and a date for the end of approval of the reviewers list by managers, if you plan that reviewees will specify reviewers themselves. In a diverse enough group of participants, one might decide to have different questionnaires for different categories of respondents. 360 degree wuestionnaires also vary depending on the competencies you choose to collect feedback on. Your data has no value to the organisation if the source is not seen as credible. This leads you to aim to reference well-established sources of research, business schools, Harvard Business Review, etc. You can use well-respected consultants to add credibility to data or diagnostics too. Brand comes in here as useful and you can soon test out which brands will land well with your stakeholders. If senior management do not visibly support and champion 360 feedback then there is no reason for anyone else in the company to do so. Leaders that don’t support the initiative send the message that it is not important. Some leaders may want to block the process because they are uncertain of its usefulness. Their concerns can transmit to opposition from their teams 360 degree feedbackis a great development tool to use when trying to generate authentic, honest and balanced feedback. It gives a complete picture of employee performance, and provides vital insights to help them grow and develop. Researching 360 appraisal is known to the best first step in determining your requirements and brushing up on your understanding in this area.

Responding Effectively To Gain Support

At every step in the 360 degree process encouragement, support and facilitation must be given to the users. They need to appreciate the value the survey has, not only for the organisation but also for their individual self-development. To keep up with the rapidly evolving skill ecosystem, organizations need to be well versed with the basics of 360 degree feedbacksystems. This is the first rung of the ladder to creating a better work culture. Everyone needs a culture which makes employees more efficient and skilled, which ultimately leads to enhanced productivity as mentioned earlier. 360 Feedback provides feedback to an employee on their performance – not only from their boss or manager, but also from 4-8 co-workers, reporting staff or customers. 360 performance reviews should usually try to measure how an employee performs in relation to the company’s values and objectives. Although all 360-degree instruments compare self-view to the views of others, not all feedback reports use the graphic display to highlight the greatest or most significant discrepancies. Some feedback reports provide a list of items or scales following the graphic display that shows the largest self/rater difference. Another strategy, illustrated in the Executive Leadership Survey, is to sort the data into groups using self/rater discrepancy as a sorting mechanism. 360 degree feedbackmostly gives qualitative feedback and might overlook the quantitative performance of an employee. In addition, unfair feedback from some people may lead to an ambiguous ratings of the employee’s performance. Supporting the big vision encompassing 360 degree feedback system will lead to untold career development initiatives.

Before launching a 360 degree review, train managers how to read 360-degree feedback results of their subordinates and make a further plan of actions for their development and train reviewers to give constructive feedback. It could be that 360 degree feedbackis honest and objective but the subject doesn’t understand why he or she is getting a given quantitative score on a factor. This lack of transparency will affect the perceived fairness of the survey. The answer here lies in open questions that provide explanation, nuance and context to the score, however be careful as they could also undermine the anonymity. Organizations that are happy with the 360-degree feedback component of their performance management systems identify these positive features of the process that manifest in a well-managed, well-integrated 360-degree feedback process. Participants at a 360 degree feedbacksession will turn up open and truly ready to be coached and explore their data, or they won’t. They may start OK but react defensively to a low rating or a bit of open-text feedback. The transformation opportunity you have will not amount to much if they stay this way. Their hormones and brain habits will ensure that they only hear a bit of what you are saying and only see a bit of what the data is really saying. Designing your 360 degree feedbackis a critical stage and there are literally hundreds of details to decide upon. You can aim for a fully integrated, beautiful-looking and clear report but this can take some putting together. Getting input from key personnel at the right times helps; designing for your objectives is critical and accurately translating your model into workable quality questions/items is essential. Evaluating 360 degree feedback can uncover issues that may be affecting employee performance.

Individual Characteristics And 360-Degree Feedback

Receiving feedback, whether positive or constructive, can be a stressful experience. This is normal and to be expected. No one likes to hear negative feedback, so you must make sure feedback is provided in a correct and constructive way - otherwise it could cause strain between your employees. In addition, reviewees are likely to be concerned about how the feedback will be used and its impact on future pay and promotion decisions. 360 degree feedbackcan help identify developmental needs at an organizational level. For instance, if multiple 360 reviews reveal that employees are struggling with motivation and engagement, it could be an organizational issue, not an individual one. Leadership could then use those reviews to develop a plan to drive employee engagement and motivate their teams. Seeing how participants respond to the 360 degree feedbackprocess can be very interesting though in these circumstances, as just the idea of a 360 degree feedbackcan bring up high levels of concern or resistance that underlie the deeper, more serious, issues. Get supplementary facts regarding 360 review technologies on this Wikipedia entry.

Related Articles:

More Insight About 360 degree assessment processes

More Insight With Regard To 360 degree appraisal applications

Additional Insight With Regard To 360-Degree evaluation applications

Further Findings About 360 degree evaluation objectives

Extra Insight With Regard To 360 feedback technologies

Additional Insight With Regard To 360 feedback systems

Supplementary Information About 360 degree appraisal initiatives