Blog

Traditionally, 360-degree surveys have been a go-to tool for leadership development, allowing organizations to assess and strengthen their leadership arsenal. At MultiRater Surveys, many of our clients specifically request 360-degree surveys for leadership evaluations and occasionally, performance reviews. And while 360-degree surveys offer valuable insights into leadership and performance competencies, 360 survey examples are not limited to the two concepts.

In reality, a customizable 360-degree feedback tool is versatile and can be adapted for various contexts. Fundamentally, it’s simply a method for collecting feedback and can be applied to many areas within an organization to help with personal and professional growth.

What are some 360 survey examples? Let’s first dive into what makes a 360-degree survey.

Fundamentals of a 360-Degree Survey:

At its core, A 360-degree review is a multi-faceted feedback tool designed to gather insights from various perspectives. Traditionally, it involves a leader performing self-assessment while receiving feedback from others such as managers, peers, and direct reports. However, in other contexts (i.e., non-leadership), it could involve business partners, clients, distributors, you name it. A 360-degree review is a form of feedback that fosters self-reflection and accountability, helping individuals understand how they are perceived by others.

The process empowers the individual (i.e. SELF) to reflect and recognize their behaviours as perceived by others, promoting deeper self-awareness. This vulnerability, combined with constructive feedback from multiple sources, helps individuals grow holistically. And while this method is largely utilized in leadership development, using a customizable 360-survey tool can help you apply it to other areas with equal effectiveness.

360 Survey Examples:

Here are several key areas where 360 surveys can be used effectively, along with example questions for each area. These 360 survey examples demonstrate the versatility of this tool beyond just leadership:

1. Leadership Development: 360 survey examples in leadership focus on key competencies such as communication, decision-making, and team management. Leadership Development 360’s is largely concerned with people management, and how mainly how their direct reports are impacted by their leadership.
   • Competency: Communication
     1. How clearly does the leader communicate goals and expectations?
     2. Does the leader foster open dialogue and encourage feedback from team members?
   • Competency: Decision-Making
     1. Does the leader make informed decisions in a timely manner?
     2. How open is the leader to considering diverse viewpoints in decision-making?
2. Performance Reviews: Staying relatively in line with leadership, performance reviews are another great example where a 360-degree survey can be used to assess an employee’s overall contributions, including their productivity and collaboration with colleagues. 360 Performance Reviews are extremely beneficial for junior-level employees. It typically involves their manager, peers, and other parties they regularly interact with in the workplace.
   • Competency: Productivity
     1. How effectively does the employee manage their workload to meet deadlines?
     2. Does the employee consistently produce high-quality work?
   • Competency: Collaboration
     1. How well does the employee contribute to team projects?
     2. Does the employee collaborate effectively with colleagues to solve problems?
3. Self-Awareness: One of the most impactful 360 survey examples involve using the tool to promote self-awareness by highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. At it’s core, a Self-Awareness 360 is a both a professional and personal development tool that can be utilized regardless of where someone is in their career.
   • Competency: Emotional Intelligence
     1. How well does the individual manage their emotions in challenging situations?
     2. Does the individual demonstrate an understanding of how their behaviours impacts others?
   • Competency: Personal Development
     1. Does the individual actively seek feedback for personal growth?
     2. How open is the individual to making changes based on the feedback they receive?
4. Sales Skills: Sales professionals can benefit greatly from 360 survey examples focused on customer relationship management and negotiation skills. A Sales Skills 360 survey is a great opportunity for a sales professional to gather feedback from their clients and prospects.
   • Competency: Client Relationship Management
     1. How well does the salesperson build lasting relationships with clients?
     2. Does the salesperson effectively address client needs and concerns?
5. • Competency: Persuasion
     1. How persuasive is the salesperson when presenting solutions to clients
     2. Does the salesperson adjust their approach based on client feedback?
6. Project Management: For project managers, 360-degree surveys provide valuable insights into their organizational and leadership skills within projects.
   • Competency: Time Management
     1. Does the project manager effectively prioritize tasks to meet deadlines?
     2. How well does the project manager allocate resources to ensure successful project completion?
   • Competency: Team Leadership
     1. How well does the project manager motivate the team toward project goals?
     2. Does the project manager provide clear direction and support to team members?
7. Customer Service Skills: Another excellent 360 survey example is in the realm of customer service, where feedback from colleagues and customers can highlight areas like problem-solving and empathy.
   • Competency: Customer Empathy
     1. How well does the employee demonstrate empathy when handling customer issues?
     2. Does the employee go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction?
   • Competency: Problem-Solving
     1. How effectively does the employee resolve customer complaints?
     2. Does the employee offer innovative solutions to customer challenges?

360 Survey Examples: Not Just Leadership

Beyond leadership evaluations, there are countless other 360 survey examples that are beneficial for an individual, and their organization. Whether its performance reviews, sales skills, self-awareness, or project management, 360-degree surveys are versatile tools that can provide valuable insights in any professional, and personal context. At MultiRater Surveys, we encourage organizations to explore the many possibilities these surveys offer to foster growth and improvement across various departments and roles.

Want to see a sample 360-questionnaire for any of the above? Please send an enquiry to info@multiratersurveys.com