If you want to help your team members develop their professional skills and build a cohesive and dynamic workforce, feedback is an essential tool. Giving managers crucial insight into performance, ability and attitude, feedback can help you get to know your team members’ strengths and weaknesses. It can also help to improve the self-awareness of employees and work to grow their professional capabilities.
One of the most effective feedback methods is 360-degree feedback. This powerful approach can help you build an even fuller picture of your employees and provide information that can help you guide their future within your organisation.
What Is 360-Degree Feedback?
360-degree feedback is a method by which people working above, alongside and beneath a person are asked to give anonymous feedback on their performance. Sometimes, customers and collaborators answer the survey as well.
Generally, around eight to 12 people are asked to fill in a form rating the subject in a number of different areas. The exact number of people who provide feedback will vary depending on the size of the company in question.
In most cases, the person receiving the evaluation will also be asked to fill out a survey. Comparing their answers with those of their colleagues can offer useful insights into their level of self-awareness and their approach to their role.
Advantages of 360-Degree Feedback
The main advantage of 360-degree feedback is that it creates a comprehensive picture of a team member’s performance. Unlike traditional evaluations, which rely solely on the opinion of the subject’s manager, this all-around approach incorporates diverse viewpoints, creating a more balanced result. This can help to identify blind spots that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Another significant advantage of the method is that it helps to promote self-awareness among your team members. All too often, people don’t realise how their behaviour can impact those around them. Seeing this information in black and white can be eye-opening and transformative, and can help you build a stronger, more cohesive team.
How To Use Feedback Data
For your 360-degree feedback approach to be truly effective, you need to know how to use the information it produces. Generally, the data garnered during the feedback process is used to help assess a team member’s abilities and identify areas where professional coaching or development may be appropriate.
By identifying a person’s weakness – or talents – and giving them training that enhances their abilities, you can make the most of your team member’s skill set. Ultimately, this will help you to create a workforce that’s dynamic, innovative and ready for action.
The 360-degree approach also allows you to identify individuals who may not be pulling their weight or who may be having difficulties with other people in your organisation. Spotting these problem areas early allows you to put things right and prevent serious issues from developing.
Gathering feedback from multiple perspectives gives you a holistic view of an employee’s performance. You can then use this information to guide development and training opportunities and help boost self-awareness, accountability and ownership in your organisation.
Learn more about the benefits of 360-degree feedback, and find out how we can help you make the process as effective as possible, by getting in touch with a member of our team today.
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