In a recent project we were asked our opinion as to when to share an individual’s 360 degree feedback report; we have always stated a firm belief that this should happen in a face-to-face debrief.

I used the analogy sketched above to explain our thinking on this – If the report represents some kind of ‘True North’ for an individual, a balanced view of both the positive and the negative, then our role as a debriefer is to guide someone along that route heading North.

If they receive the report beforehand, they can travel at an angle, veering away from True North very quickly as illustrated in the image on the left hand side, focusing on particular bits of feedback (usually the ‘negative’ feedback as they would see it), and ending up more and more remote from the balanced view which we wish to help them see.

This leads to a debrief session, where lots of energy and time is expended trying to pull them back to True North; it can be exhausting, and with limited time, leave them some way off where they should be.

Better to guide them on their journey; yes, they will still inevitably tack left and right from True North, but only marginally, with your help to bring them back onto the path.

John

www.bowlandsolutions.com