Brick making machines and cement mixers are wonderful tools – but they will not build you a house.
A 360° questionnaire and feedback report are wonderful tools for organising and structuring feedback to managers – but they also need careful human intervention if they are to achieve their intended purpose.
Practically 360° feedback works best when:
- Everyone involved knows why the feedback project is taking place and how it will work.
- Participants are guided through their personal reports (feedback coaching) soon after receiving them, by someone who is skilled in facilitating this feedback. Ideally this should be done by an external coach, but costs may determine that human resources staff or line managers play this role. If this is the case, then it is preferable that they should be trained to facilitate this feedback.
- At the end of the feedback coaching session, participants should be clear about the structure and the details in order to extract maximum value from it.
- A personal development plan is drawn up which identifies two or three development areas including one focused on an existing strength. Like all plans, this should be detailed and have a timeline, as well as time allocated for reflecting on progress.
- This plan is guided by a coach, so much the better.
Emotionally 360° feedback works best when participants:
- Are encouraged to see the feedback received as a gift.
- Are guided first to look at their strengths, and even more at their hidden strengths where feedback suggests that they are better at some behaviours than they think. This literally opens the mind to other feedback.
- Understand that everyone gets higher and lower ratings.
- Focus on one or two development areas that are mission critical, rather than taking on the burden of trying to “fix” every lower rating they are given.
Other articles in this series will help you plan and run your 360° feedback project to best achieve the objectives that you have set.
Thornhill consultants will gladly answer any questions you may have to ensure the successful implementation of a 360° feedback process in your organisation.
For more information on Thornhill’s various products and services for all levels within your organisation, please contact us on admin@thornhill.co.za.
Written by Cedric de Beer