360 Degree Feedback Questions That Actually Drive Growth [2025 Guide]
Struggling to get meaningful insights from your employee reviews? You’re not alone. Many organizations find their feedback processes yield generic comments instead of actionable development points. What if the problem isn’t the *idea* of feedback, but the *questions* you’re asking?
Surprisingly, poorly crafted 360 degree feedback questions can do more harm than good, leading to confusion, defensiveness, and zero growth. Research actually shows that while feedback *can* boost performance, about one-third of feedback interventions decrease it! The key is asking the *right* questions.
This guide dives deep into crafting and utilizing powerful 360 degree feedback questions designed to unlock genuine insights and foster real development. We’ll cover everything from core principles to specific examples you can adapt. Ready to transform your feedback culture? Let’s leverage tools like SurveySlack and explore effective survey templates to get started.
In this post, we’ll post:
- What Exactly is 360 Degree Feedback (And Why Bother?)
- The Anatomy of Powerful 360 Degree Feedback Questions
- Core Competency Areas & Sample 360 Degree Feedback Questions
- Tailoring Questions for Different Roles and Contexts
- Designing Your 360 Feedback Survey: Best Practices
- Leveraging SurveySlack for Seamless 360 Feedback
- Beyond the Questions: Analyzing and Acting on Feedback
- Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your 360 Feedback Process
- Next Steps: Implementing Your 360 Feedback Strategy
Here we go!!
What Exactly is 360 Degree Feedback (And Why Bother?)
Let’s start with the basics. 360 degree feedback, often called multi-rater feedback, is a process designed to give individuals a well-rounded view of their performance and behaviors by gathering confidential, anonymous feedback from the people who work around them.
Think of it as looking at an employee’s performance through multiple lenses.
Defining the 360 Review Process
Typically, a 360 degree feedback process involves collecting input from several sources:
- Self-Assessment: The individual rates themselves on key competencies.
- Manager(s): Their direct supervisor provides their perspective.
- Peers: Colleagues who work alongside the individual offer insights into collaboration and teamwork.
- Direct Reports (if applicable): Team members reporting to the individual provide feedback on leadership and management style.
- Others (Optional): Sometimes clients, customers, or collaborators from other departments are included.
The core idea is to move beyond the single perspective of a traditional top-down review. By incorporating diverse viewpoints, you get a more holistic and often more accurate picture of an individual’s strengths and areas for development.
This process usually relies on structured 360 degree feedback questions, often using a combination of rating scales (e.g., Likert scales) and open-ended questions for qualitative comments.
Key Benefits: Beyond Just Performance Reviews
Why go through the effort of collecting feedback from so many sources? The benefits are substantial when done right:
- Increased Self-Awareness: Helps individuals understand how their actions and behaviors are perceived by others, identifying blind spots.
- Identifies Development Needs: Pinpoints specific areas for skill improvement, training, or coaching.
- Reinforces Strengths: Highlights what an individual is doing well, boosting morale and guiding focus.
- Improves Team Dynamics: Can uncover communication or collaboration issues within teams.
- Supports Career Development: Provides valuable data for creating targeted development plans.
- Fairer Performance Assessment: Reduces bias by incorporating multiple perspectives beyond just the manager’s view. Companies using regular feedback often see improved employee retention, as noted by Gallup.
Ultimately, effective 360 feedback isn’t just about evaluation; it’s a powerful tool for individual and organizational growth.
Differentiating SurveySlack from Slack (Important!)
Before we dive deeper, let’s clear up a common point of confusion. SurveySlack is NOT the same as Slack, the popular communication platform.
SurveySlack is a dedicated platform specifically designed for creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys – including sophisticated 360 degree feedback surveys, employee engagement polls, customer satisfaction questionnaires, and much more.
While Slack is great for team chat, SurveySlack provides the specialized tools, templates, anonymity features, and analytics needed for effective feedback collection and insights. We focus entirely on helping you gather actionable data through well-designed surveys.
The Anatomy of Powerful 360 Degree Feedback Questions
The success of your entire 360 feedback initiative hinges on the quality of your questions. Generic or poorly phrased questions lead to vague, unhelpful feedback. So, what makes a 360 degree feedback question truly effective?
Characteristics of Effective Questions
Great 360 evaluation questions share several key traits:
- Specific & Behavioral: Focus on observable behaviors, not personality traits. Instead of asking “Is John a good leader?”, ask “How effectively does John delegate tasks to team members?”
- Clear & Unambiguous: Use simple language. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or complex sentence structures. Everyone providing feedback should interpret the question the same way.
- Actionable: The feedback received should point towards concrete actions the individual can take to improve or continue succeeding.
- Job-Relevant: Questions should relate directly to the competencies and behaviors required for the individual’s role and level within the organization.
- Objective & Neutral: Avoid leading questions or language that suggests a desired answer. Frame questions neutrally.
- Focused on Growth: While addressing weaknesses is important, ensure questions also allow raters to highlight strengths.
Open-Ended vs. Rating Scale Questions: Finding the Right Balance
Most effective 360-degree feedback surveys use a mix of question types:
- Rating Scale Questions (Quantitative): These typically use a Likert scale (e.g., Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree, or Needs Improvement to Exceptional). They provide standardized, measurable data that’s easier to compare and analyze for trends. Example: “Please rate the individual’s effectiveness in providing constructive feedback to colleagues (1=Never Effective, 5=Always Effective).”
- Open-Ended Questions (Qualitative): These ask for written comments, providing context, specific examples, and richer insights. They answer the “why” behind the ratings. Example: “Please provide a specific example of when this individual effectively managed a challenging team conflict.” or “What is the single most important development area for this individual?”
The ideal approach? Use rating scales for core competencies to get quantifiable data, followed by targeted open-ended questions asking for specific examples or suggestions related to those ratings. This combination gives you both the “what” and the “why.”
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Leading, Biased, and Vague Questions
Steer clear of these question-writing traps:
- Leading Questions: These subtly guide the rater towards a specific answer. (e.g., “Don’t you agree that Priya is excellent at customer presentations?”) Better: “How effective is Priya at delivering customer presentations?”
- Double-Barreled Questions: Asking about two different things in one question. (e.g., “Is Mark timely and accurate in his reporting?”) Split these into separate questions.
- Vague or Abstract Questions: Using terms open to wide interpretation. (e.g., “Does Alex demonstrate synergy?”) Better: “How effectively does Alex collaborate with other departments to achieve shared goals?”
- Questions About Innate Traits: Focusing on personality instead of behavior. (e.g., “Is Fatima naturally charismatic?”) Better: “How effectively does Fatima inspire and motivate her team?”
- Yes/No Questions: These rarely provide nuanced feedback. Use rating scales or open-ended questions instead.
Carefully reviewing your questions for 360 degree feedback against these pitfalls is crucial before launching your survey.
Core Competency Areas & Sample 360 Degree Feedback Questions
While questions should be tailored, most 360 degree feedback questions fall into common competency categories relevant across many roles and organizations. Here are key areas with sample questions (mix of rating scale prompts and open-ended formats):
Remember: Adapt these based on the specific role level and your organization’s competency model. Use a consistent rating scale (e.g., 1-5) for quantitative questions.
Leadership & Management Effectiveness (for Managers/Leaders)
- Rating Prompt: Effectively communicates a clear vision and direction for the team.
- Rating Prompt: Empowers team members by delegating tasks and decisions appropriately.
- Rating Prompt: Provides regular, constructive feedback to support team member development.
- Rating Prompt: Effectively manages team conflicts and disagreements.
- Rating Prompt: Creates an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued.
- Open-Ended: What is this individual’s greatest strength as a leader? Please provide an example.
- Open-Ended: In which leadership area could this individual most benefit from development? Please offer a specific suggestion.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
- Rating Prompt: Communicates clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
- Rating Prompt: Actively listens to understand others’ perspectives before responding.
- Rating Prompt: Adapts communication style effectively for different audiences.
- Rating Prompt: Handles difficult conversations professionally and constructively.
- Rating Prompt: Is approachable and open to hearing different viewpoints.
- Open-Ended: Can you share an example of when this individual communicated particularly effectively (or ineffectively)?
- Open-Ended: How could this individual improve their communication with colleagues or stakeholders?
Teamwork & Collaboration
- Rating Prompt: Works collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals.
- Rating Prompt: Willingly shares knowledge and resources with colleagues.
- Rating Prompt: Respects and values the contributions of team members.
- Rating Prompt: Contributes positively to team morale and dynamics.
- Rating Prompt: Is reliable and follows through on commitments to the team.
- Open-Ended: Describe a situation where this individual demonstrated strong teamwork skills.
- Open-Ended: What could this individual do to be an even more effective team collaborator?
Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
- Rating Prompt: Effectively identifies and analyzes problems to find root causes.
- Rating Prompt: Generates creative and practical solutions to challenges.
- Rating Prompt: Makes timely and well-reasoned decisions, considering available data.
- Rating Prompt: Is decisive and takes appropriate action when needed.
- Rating Prompt: Seeks input from relevant sources before making significant decisions.
- Open-Ended: Provide an example of this individual’s effective problem-solving skills.
- Open-Ended: How could this individual enhance their decision-making process?
Alignment with Company Values & Culture
- Rating Prompt: Consistently demonstrates [Company Value 1, e.g., Integrity] in their work.
- Rating Prompt: Actions align with [Company Value 2, e.g., Customer Focus].
- Rating Prompt: Contributes positively to the overall company culture.
- Rating Prompt: Acts as a positive role model for the company’s values.
- Open-Ended: How does this individual embody the company’s core values in their day-to-day work?
- Open-Ended: Are there any areas where their actions could better align with our desired culture?
Adaptability & Learning Agility
- Rating Prompt: Adapts effectively to changing priorities and circumstances.
- Rating Prompt: Is open to new ideas and approaches.
- Rating Prompt: Actively seeks opportunities to learn and develop new skills.
- Rating Prompt: Responds constructively to feedback and setbacks.
- Open-Ended: Describe a time when this individual successfully navigated a significant change or challenge.
- Open-Ended: What steps could this individual take to further enhance their adaptability?
Role-Specific Skills & Execution
- Rating Prompt: Possesses the necessary technical/functional skills for their role.
- Rating Prompt: Effectively manages their workload and prioritizes tasks.
- Rating Prompt: Consistently delivers high-quality work on time.
- Rating Prompt: Demonstrates strong [Specific Skill, e.g., Project Management or Data Analysis] skills.
- Open-Ended: What is this individual’s most significant contribution in their current role?
- Open-Ended: Are there specific technical or functional skills this individual should focus on developing further?
I Wish You Wouldn’t Miss Out:
- 360 Degree Feedback Advantages and Disadvantages [2025]
- 25+ Enterprise Survey Tools to Unlock Deeper Insights [2025]
- STOP! 100+ Customer Satisfaction Survey Questions That WORK
- 100+ Performance Review Questions For Constructive Feedback [2025]
- 75+ Employee Engagement Survey Questions That ACTUALLY Work (Steal These!)
- Update! UI Redesign of SurveySlack: A Fresh Look for Easier Surveys & Powerful Insights [2025]
Tailoring Questions for Different Roles and Contexts
One size rarely fits all in 360 feedback. While core competencies apply broadly, the specific focus and wording of your 360 degree questions should adapt based on the individual’s role, level, and even their work environment.
Questions for Individual Contributors
For non-management roles, focus more on execution, collaboration, and individual skills:
- Emphasis on technical/functional proficiency.
- Questions about task management, quality of work, and meeting deadlines.
- Focus on peer collaboration and communication within the team.
- Questions related to learning agility and adapting to process changes.
- Example: “How effectively does this individual manage their assigned tasks to meet project deadlines?”
- Example: “To what extent does this individual proactively share relevant information with teammates?”
Questions for Managers and Team Leads
Here, the focus shifts significantly towards people management and team effectiveness:
- Deep dive into delegation, coaching, and providing feedback.
- Questions about building team morale and managing conflict.
- Focus on communication clarity (upwards, downwards, and across).
- Questions about strategic thinking and aligning team goals with company objectives.
- Example: “How effectively does this manager provide actionable feedback that helps you improve your performance?” (Asked to direct reports)
- Example: “To what extent does this manager foster a collaborative environment within the team?” (Asked to peers/reports)
Questions for Senior Leadership/Executives
For top-level leaders, questions should address broader strategic impact and organizational influence:
- Focus on setting vision, strategic direction, and long-term planning.
- Questions about driving organizational change and innovation.
- Emphasis on cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management.
- Questions about cultivating company culture and developing future leaders.
- Example: “How effectively does this leader communicate a compelling vision for the organization’s future?”
- Example: “To what extent does this leader foster collaboration between different departments or business units?”
Adapting Questions for Remote & Hybrid Teams
The shift to remote and hybrid work requires adjusting some feedback questions:
- Focus on communication effectiveness through digital channels (clarity, responsiveness).
- Questions about maintaining team connection and cohesion despite distance.
- Emphasis on autonomy, trust, and results-oriented performance management.
- Questions related to managing virtual meetings effectively and ensuring inclusivity.
- Example: “How effective is this individual at communicating clearly and promptly using tools like email, chat, and video conferencing?”
- Example: “To what extent does this manager ensure remote team members feel included and informed?”
Tailoring your questions for a 360 review ensures the feedback collected is relevant and truly insightful for the individual’s specific context.
Designing Your 360 Feedback Survey: Best Practices
Crafting great questions is step one. Designing the overall survey experience is equally critical for collecting high-quality, honest feedback.
Determining the Right Number of Questions
How many 360 degree feedback questions are too many? Or too few?
- Avoid Fatigue: Too many questions lead to rater fatigue, resulting in rushed or less thoughtful answers.
- Ensure Depth: Too few questions won’t provide enough detail for meaningful insights.
- Sweet Spot: Aim for a survey that takes raters roughly 15-25 minutes to complete. This often translates to 25-50 questions, balancing rating scales and open-ended prompts.
- Consider Frequency: If conducting 360s annually, you can be more comprehensive. For more frequent pulse checks, keep it shorter.
Test the survey length internally before launching it widely.
Selecting the Right Raters
Who should provide feedback? The goal is a balanced perspective:
- Manager(s): Essential for performance context.
- Peers (3-5): Choose colleagues who work closely and regularly with the individual. Allow the individual some input, but the manager should finalize the list to ensure diverse perspectives.
- Direct Reports (3-5, if applicable): Crucial for leadership feedback. Ensure enough reports participate to maintain anonymity.
- Self-Assessment: Always include this for comparison and self-reflection.
- Others (Optional): Consider clients or cross-functional partners if relevant to the role.
Clearly define the relationship of each rater group so feedback can be analyzed appropriately.
Ensuring Anonymity and Confidentiality (Crucial!)
This is non-negotiable for honest feedback. Raters *must* trust that their specific comments will not be directly attributed to them (except for the manager’s feedback, which is usually identifiable).
- Communicate Clearly: Explicitly state how anonymity is protected (e.g., feedback aggregated, minimum number of raters per category).
- Use a Trusted Platform: Platforms like SurveySlack are designed with robust confidentiality controls. Avoid manual collection via email.
- Aggregate Data: Report feedback in combined themes, especially for peer and direct report groups. Don’t show individual responses unless the group size is large enough (e.g., 3-5+ raters per category).
- Handle Open-Ended Comments Carefully: While valuable, ensure comments are anonymized or presented thematically to avoid identifying the source through specific phrasing or examples.
Breaching confidentiality destroys trust and undermines the entire process.
Communicating the Process Effectively
Don’t just send out a survey link. Proper communication is key:
- Explain the “Why”: Clearly articulate the purpose of the 360 feedback (development, not solely evaluation) and how the results will be used.
- Outline the Process: Explain who will participate, the timeline, how confidentiality is maintained, and what happens after feedback is collected.
- Provide Guidance: Offer brief training or guidelines to raters on providing constructive, behavioral feedback (both positive and developmental).
- Set Expectations: Manage expectations for both the individual receiving feedback and the raters providing it.
Proactive communication builds buy-in and reduces anxiety.
Leveraging SurveySlack for Seamless 360 Feedback
Running a 360 feedback process manually can be cumbersome and prone to errors, especially regarding confidentiality. Using a dedicated platform like SurveySlack streamlines the entire workflow.
Remember, SurveySlack is built for sophisticated surveys, making complex processes like 360 feedback much easier to manage.
Using SurveySlack Templates for Quick Starts
Don’t want to build your 360 degree feedback survey from scratch? SurveySlack offers pre-built free survey templates, including ones designed for 360 reviews.
- Save Time: Start with professionally designed question sets covering common competencies.
- Ensure Best Practices: Templates often incorporate proven question formats and structures.
- Customizable: Easily adapt templates to fit your specific competencies, values, and role requirements.
Templates provide a solid foundation, letting you focus on tailoring rather than reinventing the wheel.
Customizing Questions and Surveys in SurveySlack
SurveySlack provides flexibility to fully customize your survey:
- Variety of Question Types: Use rating scales (Likert, sliders), multiple-choice, and open-text questions.
- Logic & Branching: Show specific questions based on rater type (e.g., different questions for peers vs. direct reports).
- Branding: Add your company logo and colors for a professional look.
- Easy Editing: Add, remove, or rephrase questions easily using an intuitive interface.
This allows you to create a survey that perfectly matches your organization’s needs and uses the precise 360-degree review questions you’ve crafted.
Automating Distribution and Reminders (coming out soon)
Managing invitations and follow-ups manually is time-consuming. SurveySlack automates this:
- Easy Participant Upload: Import lists of individuals and their designated raters.
- Automated Invitations: Send personalized email invitations with unique survey links.
- Scheduled Reminders: Automatically send reminders to raters who haven’t completed the survey, improving response rates.
- Track Progress: Monitor completion rates in real-time.
Automation frees up HR time and ensures a smoother process for everyone involved.
Analyzing Results with SurveySlack’s Reporting Tools
Once responses are in, SurveySlack helps make sense of the data:
- Automated Reports: Generate individual reports summarizing feedback from different rater groups (while maintaining anonymity).
- Visualizations: View data through charts and graphs for easy interpretation of ratings.
- Competency Summaries: See average scores by competency area.
- Comment Theming (Potential Future Feature/Advanced Analysis): Tools may help identify recurring themes in open-ended comments.
- Data Export: Export raw data for further analysis if needed.
These tools transform raw feedback into actionable insights for development planning.
Beyond the Questions: Analyzing and Acting on Feedback
Collecting feedback via well-crafted 360 evaluation questions is only half the battle. The real value comes from analyzing the results and turning them into actionable development plans.
Interpreting Quantitative vs. Qualitative Data
Your reports will contain both numbers (ratings) and words (comments). Look at them together:
- Quantitative (Ratings): Identify patterns. Where are the highest and lowest scores? How do self-ratings compare to others’ ratings (revealing potential blind spots or areas of under/overestimation)? Are there significant differences between rater groups (e.g., peers vs. direct reports)?
- Qualitative (Comments): Provide context and explanation for the ratings. Look for specific examples that illustrate the scores. Comments often highlight the “why” behind the numbers and offer concrete suggestions.
Don’t rely solely on average scores. Dig into the distribution of ratings and the nuances within the comments.
Identifying Key Themes and Development Areas
Synthesize the feedback to pinpoint the most important messages:
- Look for Convergence: What strengths or weaknesses are mentioned consistently across different rater groups? These are likely key areas.
- Note Divergence: Where do perceptions differ significantly (e.g., self vs. others, manager vs. peers)? This warrants further exploration.
- Prioritize: You can’t work on everything at once. Identify 2-3 key strengths to leverage and 1-2 critical development areas to focus on.
- Balance Strengths and Weaknesses: Effective development plans build on strengths as well as addressing weaknesses. Research suggests focusing on strengths can be highly impactful.
Facilitating Constructive Feedback Conversations
The feedback report should be delivered and discussed in a supportive, confidential conversation, usually facilitated by the manager or an HR professional:
- Create a Safe Space: Emphasize development, not judgment.
- Guide Interpretation: Help the individual understand the feedback, navigate emotional reactions, and focus on themes rather than dwelling on isolated negative comments.
- Encourage Reflection: Ask open-ended questions to help the individual process the information (e.g., “What surprises you most in this feedback?”, “Which comments resonate most with you?”).
- Focus on Behavior: Keep the conversation centered on observable behaviors and their impact.
Creating Actionable Development Plans
The ultimate goal is growth. Translate feedback insights into a concrete plan:
- Define SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound development objectives based on the feedback.
- Identify Actions: What specific steps will the individual take (e.g., attend training, seek a mentor, practice specific skills, ask for feedback more often)?
- Determine Resources: What support is needed (e.g., coaching, budget for courses, manager support)?
- Set Follow-Up Points: Schedule check-ins to review progress and adjust the plan as needed.
Without action, the 360 process becomes a meaningless exercise.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your 360 Feedback Process
Even with the best intentions and great 360 degree feedback questions, pitfalls can derail your process. Be aware of these common mistakes:
- Lack of Clear Purpose or Communication: If participants don’t understand *why* the feedback is being collected and *how* it will be used (for development vs. compensation), they may be skeptical or provide less candid input.
- Poorly Designed Questions: Using vague, leading, or irrelevant questions yields useless data, as discussed earlier. This is a fundamental flaw.
- Insufficient Rater Training/Guidance: Raters may not know how to provide specific, behavioral, constructive feedback. They might default to generic praise or overly harsh criticism.
- Ignoring Confidentiality Concerns: Any breach, or even perceived risk, of confidentiality will shut down honest feedback immediately. Using a secure platform like SurveySlack and clear communication are vital.
- The “Dump and Run”: Simply handing over a feedback report without a facilitated discussion or support for interpretation can be overwhelming and counterproductive.
- No Follow-Up or Action: If individuals see that nothing changes after feedback is given, they (and future raters) will view the process as pointless. Lack of action is the quickest way to kill a 360 program.
- Using it Solely for Performance Ratings/Compensation: While 360 insights *inform* performance discussions, directly tying raw scores to salary or promotion decisions discourages honest developmental feedback. Keep the primary focus on growth.
- Incorrect Rater Selection: Choosing raters who don’t work closely enough with the individual, or allowing biased selection, skews the results.
- Cultural Misalignment: Forcing a 360 process into a culture that lacks psychological safety or trust can backfire. Build foundational trust first.
Avoiding these mistakes requires careful planning, clear communication, robust tools, and a genuine commitment to using the feedback for development.
Next Steps: Implementing Your 360 Feedback Strategy
Ready to move from theory to action? Here’s a simplified roadmap:
- Define Your Goals: Why are you implementing 360 feedback? What specific outcomes do you hope to achieve (e.g., improved leadership skills, better teamwork)?
- Select Your Platform: Choose a tool like SurveySlack that ensures confidentiality, ease of use, and robust reporting.
- Develop/Adapt Your Questions: Craft or customize your 360 degree feedback questions based on your goals and relevant competencies. Use the examples and principles in this guide.
- Plan Your Process: Determine timing, participants, rater selection strategy, and communication plan.
- Communicate Clearly: Explain the purpose, process, and confidentiality measures to all participants.
- Launch & Monitor: Distribute the survey using your chosen platform and track completion rates. Send reminders as needed.
- Analyze & Report: Generate reports once data collection is complete.
- Facilitate Feedback Sessions: Conduct confidential discussions to help individuals understand their feedback.
- Create Development Plans: Work with individuals to build actionable plans based on their results.
- Follow Up & Evaluate: Check in on progress and periodically evaluate the effectiveness of your 360 feedback program itself.
Starting small, perhaps with a pilot group, can be a good way to refine your process before a full rollout.
Final Thought: Asking the Right Questions for Real Growth
Effective 360 degree feedback is far more than just a survey – it’s a strategic process for fostering self-awareness, identifying development opportunities, and ultimately driving individual and organizational growth. The foundation of this process lies in asking the *right* 360 degree feedback questions: questions that are specific, behavioral, actionable, and relevant.
By moving beyond generic inquiries and embracing targeted, well-crafted questions tailored to different roles and competencies, you unlock richer, more meaningful insights. Combining quantitative ratings with qualitative comments provides a balanced perspective, highlighting both the “what” and the “why” of performance.
Remember to pair great questions with a well-designed process: ensure confidentiality, communicate clearly, select raters thoughtfully, and, most importantly, commit to analyzing the feedback and acting upon it through constructive conversations and focused development plans. Tools like SurveySlack can significantly streamline this process, ensuring efficiency and data security.
Stop settling for surface-level feedback. Start asking powerful 360 degree feedback questions and watch your people – and your organization – thrive.
FAQs About 360 Degree Feedback Questions
What are good questions for 360 feedback?
Good 360 degree feedback questions are specific, behavioral, actionable, relevant to the role, and neutrally phrased. They focus on observable actions rather than personality traits. Examples include:
- “How effectively does this individual provide constructive feedback to colleagues?” (Rating Scale)
- “Describe a situation where this individual successfully managed competing priorities.” (Open-Ended)
- “To what extent does this person actively listen during team discussions?” (Rating Scale)
Focus on competencies like communication, teamwork, leadership (if applicable), problem-solving, and role-specific skills.
How many questions should be in a 360 review?
Aim for a balance between depth and rater fatigue. A common range is 25-50 questions (including both rating scales and open-ended prompts). This typically takes a rater 15-25 minutes to complete. Too few questions lack detail, while too many lead to rushed responses.
What should you NOT ask in a 360 review?
Avoid questions that are:
- Vague or ambiguous: “Is she a good team player?”
- Leading or biased: “Don’t you think his reports are always late?”
- Double-barreled: “Is he creative and detail-oriented?” (Ask separately)
- About personality traits: “Is she naturally introverted?” (Focus on behavior: “How effectively does she contribute in group settings?”)
- Yes/No questions: They lack nuance.
- Irrelevant to the job role or competencies.
- Likely to breach confidentiality if comments are too specific.
What are the 5 key areas of 360 degree feedback?
While specific areas vary by organization and role, 5 commonly assessed key areas are:
- Leadership/Management Skills (Vision, delegation, coaching, motivation – for managers)
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills (Clarity, listening, collaboration, conflict resolution)
- Teamwork & Collaboration (Cooperation, support, reliability, respect)
- Execution & Results Orientation (Task management, quality, problem-solving, decision-making)
- Adaptability & Learning Agility (Handling change, openness to feedback, skill development)
Alignment with company values is also frequently included.
How do you ask for 360 feedback examples?
Use open-ended questions specifically requesting examples to add context to ratings. Frame them neutrally:
- “Please provide a specific example of when [Name] demonstrated strong problem-solving skills.”
- “Can you describe a situation where [Name] effectively handled a difficult conversation?”
- “What is one specific action [Name] could take to improve their [Competency Area, e.g., project management]?”
- “Please share an instance that illustrates [Name]’s collaborative approach.”
Asking for examples makes the feedback more concrete and actionable.