1. Support the Process with Trained People

An area where I often see 360 degree feedback, and other forms of appraisal, fall over is when the process is not fully supported. The most successful are when the raters, recipients and debriefers all receive training on the role that they need to play..

2. If it’s Complicated They Won’t Do It

Implementing any new process in an organisation is fundamentally a ‘change initiative’ and as such you need to take all possible steps to make the process easy for people to adopt. To overcome this, tailor the system as much as possible to the organisation, including not too many questions, wording that the user can relate to and plenty of opportunity for free-text replies. But most of all, make it self explanatory and the system very easy to use. 

3. The Aim is to Move Forwards – Not Just Find Out Where You Are

Always remember why you are doing a 360 degree feedback. At the end of the day, it is to use the information to develop individuals so that tangible improvements can be made to business performance.  

The best way to do this is to repeat the cycle after the training, coaching or other such intervention, so that you can accurately assess the change, improvement and impact  of the process. 

4. Follow Through

Some companies conduct 360 degree appraisals and but do nothing with the results. Success is created by reacting quickly to the training needs, publishing clear learning and development plans and, put quite simply, getting on with making improvements as soon as you have the results.

If  nothing happens staff engagement will decrease next time. Do something positive and the benefit of appraisals will soon gather momentum across the whole organisation.

5. Tell Everyone What’s Going On

When you introduce or move to an online 360 degree system it can raise questions in people’s minds. Why is our company deciding to do it this way? What’s changed? How’s this going to affect me personally?

Have a plan for clear, regular communication and open channels for everyone to ask their questions. It will improve the overall success and the benefits you enjoy as a business.

 John