We ran our seminar, entitled ‘Using 360 Degree Feedback to bust through urban myths’, for the first time last week and were very pleased with how it was received.

The essence of it drew attention to the power of 360 degree feedback as something that can not only help individuals explore their own stories, myths, strengths and development areas, but also a process which can help unearth myths and truths within the organisation itself.

The behaviours displayed by individuals is not just a product of their own predispositions, capabilities, values and alike, but critically are in no small part driven by the organisational system they are part of.

Systems of reward and incentives, unwritten or explicit, will affect behaviour; as will the culture, strategy, processes and external environment.

By exploring lots of  individual’s behaviours through 360 degree feedback, an aggregated picture emerges which tells you something of about the reality within the organisation – what was set up with a positive, simple intent has created a complex reality on the ground.

The key is to be able to explore the myths and find the truth, before ‘speaking truth to power’, so that the organisation can pay attention to the strategic insights which can flow from 360 degree feedback and recalibrate.

Our thanks to all who attended and the interesting discussions which helped explore this topic.

John