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Writer's pictureKathy Krul-Manor

The Importance of 360 Feedback in Building a High-Impact Leadership Team

KKM Leadership, 17 October 2023

360 Feedback for High-Impact Leadership Teams

360 Feedback for High-Impact Leadership Teams

In today's complex and rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability of leadership teams to adapt, innovate, and drive organizational success is paramount. However, for a leadership team to function at its highest potential, its members must continuously seek opportunities for growth and development.


One of the most effective tools in promoting leadership excellence is the 360 Feedback survey. Let’s delve into the significance of 360 Feedback for high-impact leadership teams.


360 feedback requires feedback from all key stakeholders

1. Comprehensive Perspective

Unlike traditional feedback mechanisms that typically source opinions from superiors or direct reports, the 360 Feedback process gathers feedback from a comprehensive range of sources: peers, subordinates, superiors, and even external stakeholders like clients or partners.


This holistic perspective ensures a more accurate and complete understanding of a leader's strengths and areas for improvement.


2. Unearthing Blind Spots

Every leader, irrespective of their level of competence, has blind spots. These are areas of their leadership approach they're unaware of, which might be hampering their effectiveness. 360 Feedback, by virtue of its all-encompassing nature, sheds light on these blind spots.


When leaders become aware of them, they can take the necessary steps to address and rectify these gaps.


3. Encouraging Open Communication

360 Feedback helps foster a culture of open communication. When leaders are open to receiving feedback from all directions, it sets a precedent for the entire organization.


This transparency and openness can lead to enhanced trust, better collaboration, and ultimately, a more cohesive and high-performing team.


Individual Growth Plans hold leaders accountable

4. Individual Growth Plans

Using the data gathered from a 360 Feedback survey, leaders can craft personalized development plans that cater to their unique needs. I use an Individual Growth Plan (IGP) template that helps leaders capture key development areas, the specific actions they need to take, what support is required, and what success looks like.


Whether it’s honing specific skills, improving interpersonal dynamics, or addressing leadership challenges, these tailored plans ensure that the path to improvement is clear and actionable.


5. Reinforcing Strengths

While it’s essential to identify areas for improvement, it’s equally crucial to recognize and leverage a leader’s strengths. By understanding what they excel at, leaders can amplify these strengths, positioning themselves to provide maximum value to the organization.


You can complement the 360 process by using Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessments - this will set each leader up for even greater success.


6. Enhancing Team Dynamics

Feedback isn't just about individual growth. When each member of a leadership team undergoes a 360 Feedback process, insights can be gathered about team dynamics, collaboration, and synergy.


This information can be used to improve team functioning, ensuring that the leadership unit operates as a cohesive whole.

Feedback enhances communication across the team

7. Demonstrating Commitment to Growth

When leaders actively seek feedback and act on it, they send a clear message to the organization: they are committed to personal and professional growth.


This can inspire others in the organization to adopt a similar growth mindset, leading to a culture of continuous improvement.


Conclusion

In the quest to build a high-impact leadership team, data-driven insights are invaluable. The 360 Feedback survey stands out as a tool that provides these insights in a comprehensive, actionable manner.


Leveraging tools and assessments can be incredibly impactful for both individual and team effectiveness. However, it is important to partner with a highly experienced professional when launching a 360 Feedback process. Please contact KKM Leadership for advice on how to launch an effective 360 program.

 

Interested in launching 360 Feedback for your leadership team? Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our development programming and leadership assessments.

 



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