Persons in management positions can benefit significantly from a 360 degree assessment conducted by an outside consultant or coach.
The hired third party interviews up to ten staffers, using a standardized set of pre-established open-ended questions approved by the manager.
After the interviews are completed, the consultant or coach prepares a comprehensive summary of the common themes and trends, carefully protecting each employee's privacy.
The following is a list of the major benefits to such an assessment:
1. The manager learns how staff views her daily behaviors.
2. The manager receives evidence of his strengths.
3. The manager gains insight around her weaknesses.
4. The manager receives feedback about certain aspects of his professional image.
5. The manager learns how her staff interpret her frame of mind and world view.
6. The manager finds out how his staff see him as a human being.
7. The manager gets a peek at how others view her outside of the department.
8. The manager receives information about his impact upon others.
9. The manager gets clues about her professional and personal development needs.
10. The manager learns how he influences his employees' attitudes, work performance, and job satisfaction.
One way to build a strong organizational commitment to the process of gathering 360-degree feedback is to have your organization's leaders volunteer to be the first to engage in the process. Employees may be more willing to participate if they see it is a positive, top-down initiative. Leaders can demonstrate that the corporate culture is one of constant learning and growth, where feedback and honest communication are encouraged and embraced.
