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Prism: A 360-degree feedback tool for ministry |
Dr. Dan Pryor |
Feedback is critical to the growth and development
of leaders, but it's both surprising and disturbing how little
constructive feedback individuals receive in organizations. Giving
and receiving feedback is hard work, uncomfortable and sometimes
politically risky. As a result, far too little feedback occurs in
most organizations.
Fortunately, there is a new technology that greatly improves the
quantity and quality of feedback. Called 360-degree feedback, also
known as multi-rater feedback, this tool is now available to
religious professionals. It is a method of systematically collecting
the observations and opinions of a group of raters regarding an
individual's job performance.
How does the evaluation tool work
A participant receives an e-mail message notifying him that he
is a participant. He names three rater groups and picks five
individuals to make up each group. The participant forwards the
raters' names and e-mail addresses to a central confidential Web
site. The raters complete a questionnaire rating the participant on
113 organizational behaviors. The participant and his supervisor
also complete the questionnaire.
When all questionnaires are completed and returned to the secure Web
site, a report is generated and delivered to a certified feedback
specialist who then shares the report with the participant on a
one-on-one or small group setting. The feedback report divides the
results by raters groups. Additionally, the ratings of the
supervisor are differentiated from the three rater groups as well as
the participant's self-ratings. The participant is able to easily
compare the perceptions of the three rater groups and his superior
with his own ratings.
Data analysis
Because the feedback comes from multiple raters, the participant
sees different snapshots of himself. Understanding one's feedback is
the most important aspect of the entire 360 process. George Peabody,
an Episcopal priest and management consultant, says, "In every
feedback report, there are three or four messages that need to be
heard. It is the participant's job to find those messages."
enefits of the evaluation tool
The 360-degree evaluation tool provides a more comprehensive
picture of a person's performance because feedback is coming from
multiple perspectives.
A participant is more likely to get a more accurate picture of his
performance.
The anonymity of the 360-degree feedback makes it easier for
feedback givers to be candid. It reduces the level of fear.
A 360-degree feedback takes a great deal of pressure off of an
individual feedback giver - frequently the supervisor.
In situations where the results belong only to the participant,
there is less tension, less need to be defensive, and more freedom
to focus on growth and development.
Dr. Dan Pryor can be reached at prism@nacba.net. For details on
Prism, visit www.nacba.net/prism.
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