Software Engineering

Empowering Your Team with 360 Reviews: A Guide for HR Managers

A 360 review is a comprehensive performance evaluation process that involves feedback from multiple sources, including an employee's manager, peers, direct reports, and sometimes even customers.
Published on
March 2024

A 360 review is a comprehensive performance evaluation process that involves feedback from multiple sources, including an employee's manager, peers, direct reports, and sometimes even customers. This type of review provides a well-rounded picture of an employee's strengths and areas for improvement, which can be a valuable tool for HR managers to identify opportunities for growth and development.

Preparing for a 360 Review

Before starting a 360 review process, it's important for HR managers to consider several factors that can impact the success of the review.

For example, the company culture and team dynamics should be taken into account when selecting the right people to include in the review.

It's also important to establish clear goals and expectations for the review process, such as identifying areas for improvement and recognizing successes.

Conducting the Review

Asking effective questions and collecting feedback are key components of conducting a 360 review. HR managers should encourage open and honest communication by ensuring confidentiality and addressing any concerns raised during the review process.

Collecting feedback from a variety of sources can also help to reduce potential biases that might come up when team members review one another.

Analyzing and interpreting the data gathered during the review can help HR managers identify patterns and trends, and make decisions about how to address areas for improvement.

Communicating Results and Taking Action

Once the review process is complete, HR managers should communicate the results to the team and individual employees. This includes sharing feedback and discussing areas for improvement, as well as recognizing successes.

An action plan should be created to address areas for improvement and track progress over time. HR managers should also follow up on progress and make any necessary adjustments to the action plan.

Automating the Process

Automating 360 reviews can save time and enable more frequent feedback. HR managers should consider different software options that are available and choose the right one for their team.

Some of these options even take advantage of tools your team may already be using, like Slack, MS Teams, Webex, or email, to get the job done.

Once automation is implemented, it can be integrated with other HR processes, such as performance management and goal setting.

A More Accurate Representation of Performance

In conclusion, a 360 review process can provide valuable insights into an employee's performance and can help HR managers identify opportunities for development.

Tools like ours, WorkStory, can streamline the 360 review process so that it takes less time so that you can focus more on managing the short and long-term growth of your team.

By considering key factors, conducting an effective review, communicating results, and automating the process, HR managers can create a successful 360 review process that benefits both the employee and the company in the long term.

Weekly newsletter
Join hundreds of HR and team leads—receive our very best resources in your inbox every week.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Whenever you’re ready, here are 4 ways WorkStory can help you:

  1. The WorkStory Platform: Our all-in-one performance management solution. WorkStory makes it easy to gather continuous feedback, run 360 reviews, and track team progress—all in one place. Perfect for teams looking to move beyond traditional performance reviews.
  2. The Performance Review Builder Tool: Create customized performance reviews that fit your organization’s unique needs. Tailor the reviews to each role, streamline the review process, and focus on growth-oriented feedback.
  3. Performance Review Templates: Access a library of pre-built, best-in-class performance review templates that are ready to use. Whether you need templates for leadership, team members, or cross-functional roles, we’ve got you covered.
  4. HR Document Templates: From onboarding checklists to change management guides, our HR templates are designed to save time and ensure consistency across your organization. Simply download, customize, and implement.
Latest Posts
Newsletter

Three Common Performance Review Pitfalls—and How to Avoid Them

As we head into the end-of-year review season, it’s a good time to evaluate how you’re conducting performance reviews. A well-executed review process can inspire and set a clear path for growth. But a few common pitfalls can turn reviews into an ineffective or even dreaded experience for employees.
Read post
Newsletter

5 Signs Your Team Is Quiet Quitting (And How to Fix It)

As a leader, one of the most challenging things to spot is when your team members have mentally checked out but are still physically present. This phenomenon is called quiet quitting—where employees do the bare minimum without showing the engagement they once had.
Read post
Newsletter

Why Promoting Your Top Performer Might Be a Huge Mistake

Employees are often promoted based on their success in their current role, but that doesn’t always mean they’ll thrive in the next one, especially when leadership is involved.
Read post