Here are some tips you can use to make the most out of your 360 evaluation:

Information is easier to consume in small portions. Take time to process the information in a way that feels manageable. As an example, you can identify three or four emergent themes and for each one, and assign some initial goals.

Your assessment will uncover learning opportunities and blind spots (areas where the self-rated score is higher than the score of other raters). Examine the patterns that emerge across different raters and previous reviews (if available). They’ll nudge toward specific improvements that can be made. Also, consider how these areas align with your values and standards of leadership.

Occasionally, managers and peers will score an employee higher than they score themselves. The difference may indicate a lack of awareness in terms of perception or value. It’s to your advantage to build confidence in these individuals through new tasks, guidance and encouragement. The boost can bring elevated performance and contagious positivity to your work environment.

Are internal processes working the way they should? What steps could be taken to improve? Start with a problem to solve, aim for an ideal state, and work backwards until you’ve landed on a solution that feels achievable. Don’t shy away from disrupting the status quo. With your 360 evaluation deployed, people have a hunch that some form of change may be coming. Most will be ready to support thoughtful improvements aimed at making their workplace better.

Dedicate yourself to improvement and accept the fact that it won’t happen overnight. Meaningful, lasting change requires a flexible, long-term vision that can address concerns and foster growth. Use test groups to try out new ideas. Don’t expect to please everyone – focus on improving the average, not the lowest score you find.

Your 360 degree feedback report, in combination with these tips and your own research, will set you down a path toward a thriving future. As always, Grapevine Evaluations will be here to help, every step of the way.

New to performance review software? Try our free trial of our 360 degree feedback and performance review software now and decide if it’s right for your business.