Episode 139: Best 360-Degree Assessments

Published: June 19, 2024

Details

360-degree assessments are a central component in many leadership-development programs. But not all assessments provide the same value to individual leaders or to the organization.

The best assessments offer participants powerful insights into how others perceive their leadership strengths and weaknesses. These become a solid impetus for personal change. Organizations that offer multi-rater feedback at the start of their leadership development programs benefit from participants who are much more receptive and engaged in their learning opportunities. Given so many choices, how can organizations determine what qualifies as a highly effective instrument? Today we are exploring six components that differentiate the best 360 degree assessments.

Key Learnings

Empirical Competency Selection: Effective 360-degree assessments should be based on statistically validated competencies rather than subjective opinions. Empirical data ensures that the assessed behaviors truly differentiate high performers from others.
Importance of Validated Questions: High-quality 360-degree assessments use carefully crafted and validated questions that provide meaningful and actionable feedback. This approach minimizes wasted time and ensures the assessment process is efficient and effective.
Minimizing False-Positives: Using a “Strength” scale rather than a generic agree-disagree scale helps to reduce false-positive results, providing more accurate and useful feedback for participants.
Clarity and Simplicity: The feedback from a 360-degree assessment should be easily understood by all participants, without the need for specialized knowledge. Clear language and concise reports enhance the usability and impact of the feedback.
Linking Leadership to Employee Engagement: Effective 360-degree assessments include measures of employee engagement and satisfaction, highlighting the significant impact of leadership behaviors on team commitment and overall organizational health.

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