A 360 review typically consists of managers receiving and analyzing employee feedback to look for notable patterns of behavior and positive/negative feedback and then creating a report. This can provide employees with constructive criticism without overwhelming them.
Positive feedback is associated with better performance and higher productivity. Sadly, 360-degree feedback often focuses excessively on the negative, with employees typically ignoring their strengths. This usually comes from a place of good intention—employees want to address their weaknesses.
360 reviews are effective, but they require cooperation from multiple stakeholders, which can be time-intensive. Some sources may hesitate to respond to 360 reviews if they don't feel they know the subject well enough to share feedback. Others may feel they don't need to participate because “Someone else will do it.”
Some companies use peer-based review systems as an alternative to the 360-degree review. In this system, feedback is gathered from an employee's peers rather than from managers alone. This approach is believed to provide a more comprehensive and accurate view of an employee's performance.
360° reviews provide an opportunity for individuals to strengthen relationships with the people they work with. Seeing the positive feedback others share about them can create a sense of camaraderie while receiving insight about areas for improvement can help them become better team members.
7 steps for designing an effective 360 degree feedback review program Set clear goals. Train raters. Focus on natural strengths. Involve managers and leaders. Create buy-in and trust in the 360 development program. Know what to ask and how to ask it. Personalise the 360 degree feedback program to your organisation.
However, 360 reviews can be very quick – read on to learn more. Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, co-founders of the leadership development training firm Zenger Folkman believe that the 360 degree assessment should be no longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
Keep the survey short and direct While it's always tempting to ask dozens upon dozens of questions about every topic you can think of, doing so is guaranteed to cause “survey fatigue.” To increase survey participation and engagement, make sure your 360-review takes no longer than ten minutes to complete.
360 degree feedback (also known as multi-source or multi rater feedback assessment) is a way for individuals to understand their personal strengths and weaknesses, using the constructive feedback of others who work with them the most.