Career Success For Accountants

Career: The Power of 360 Degree Feedback

Many organisations have set up appraisals systems.  Those that are most effective include 360 degree feedback.  So what is 360 degree feedback and how can you start to put it in place?

360 Degree Feedback

The basic concept behind 360 feedback is getting views from those that manage you, those in your peer group and those that you manage.  The idea is to get a rounded picture of your performance from a number of different sources in order to build up a picture of your strengths and development needs.  In a well designed 360 feedback process you will also complete your own self assessment.

When you are first faced with the possibility of 360 feedback it can be daunting.  The reality is very different. You discover:

1. Qualities that you never even noticed in yourself
2. People are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to your growth
3. You are often your biggest critic and people think much more highly of you than you do
4. Where greatest benefit will be derived from your personal development activities as you will know where to focus your attention
5. You have many more strengths than you have development needs

Setting up 360 Feedback

There are a range of options open to you and one consideration will be financial.  At the most basic level, you can send out an e-mail to people.  Another alternative is to use software of there is a system in your company.  There are also options to use technology even if your company does not have its own computer package.  A Google search will identify some options.

In terms of those that you ask for feedback:

1. Aim for about 10-15 people
2. Have a range of managers, peers and subordinates
3. Choose some people who you anticipate will give you a high rating
4. Choose some people who you will anticipate will give you a low rating
5. Choose some people who you are unclear as to how they will rate you

When carrying out your own self assessment:

1. Don’t forget to recognise your strengths
2. Be honest with yourself
3. See weaknesses as an opportunity for development

Go on give it a try and see the power of 360 degree feedback for yourself.

About the Author Duncan Brodie

Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.

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Leave a Comment:

4 comments
Mauli says 30 July 2009

Guess what…I just found a website called orcoli.com which is completed based on 360 degree feedback. It looks like the site has just started but the concept behind the website is you can register post which you can create profiles of your colleagues i.e. manager, peers or subordinates and then you can rate them based on a customized questionnaire. Post which your fellow colleagues can come and rate the profile you have created. It looks to me that this site has been opened so that every employee can get the benefit of 360 degree even though it is existing in their organization or not and other than that you will be rated for all the organizations you have ever worked with…a complete documentation of your professional history…an interesting one…go and check this out…i have never seen such website before…long back i saw a site called coworkers.com but again that was probably not exactly on 360 degree but orcoli is definitely. btw, glaxosmithline company got an award for some best practice in recruitment (search on google)…it was also using some customized version of 360 degree i.e. the shortlisted candidates names will be forwarded to the references they have mentioned and then they will be asked to rate that person anonymously but again those ratings can still be influenced…

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360 deree feedback says 14 July 2011

There is a much power of 360 degree feedback. 360 degree feedback having most powerful tools that can change the business environment and can grow the business from down to up.

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