Middle Manager Framework and 360 Degree Feedback
Increasingly, people recognise the value of feedback and are using 360° feedback processes to gather information. It is a simple, but very powerful, way to gather information to help identify current strengths and development needs.
Any improvement journey starts with a good picture of the current situation and individual performance improvement is no different. In the ideal culture people would routinely give each other feedback and provide ongoing assessment of each other's performance. The feedback would assist individuals and their managers to shape future development to improve performance.
How Does 360° Assessment Work?
Essentially 360° assessment is a questionnaire, which asks a series of questions about the individual. People are asked to give a rating on how they see that person perform in specific areas. 360 refers to the sample of people who are asked to complete the questionnaire which should include people who see the person from different perspectives, boss, peers, and people who report directly to them, customers or partners.
Where Can I Get Information on 360° Feedback?
There is a variety of different 360° questionnaires available, and an important first step is to find one that fits your role and gathers feedback on the areas of interest to you. North West Employers has a 360° feedback process which can be customised for authorities and we have worked with approximately 50% of authorities in the region over the last two years. For more information on instruments click the link below.
Using 360 Feedback
In addition to our own 360° instrument, we are licensed to deliver several other questionnaires. In particular we have extensive experience in using questionnaires that have been developed by Professor Beverley Alio-Metcalfe, eg Transformational Leadership Questionnaire (TLQ) and Integration. Beverley has undertaken most of the research in the public sector on the use of 360° feedback and further information on her work is available at the link below at the Real World Group (formerly Leadership Research Development Ltd).
Real World Group
Middle Manager Framework
The North West 360° Feedback Tool allows assessment against existing management competencies within your authority.
As part of our work with authorities we acknowledge the desire and benefits to developing a framework which reflects the individual nature and challenges of different authorities, but we are also conscious that not all authorities will have the resources internally, or the funding, to buy in the support to develop a framework.
We believe that we have a role in sharing knowledge and, where possible, reduce the costs for authorities. With this in mind we brought together a small group of authorities to craft a 'middle managers' framework'. The group included a rich mix of authorities that have developed and embedded their own framework and others that have not developed a formal framework, but see this group of managers as central to their authorities' transformation.
The framework is available to authorities to freely use, to amend or adapt to fit their needs, but we hope it will be a good starting point. Click the link below for a copy of the framework.
Regional Middle Manager Framework
Thanks to the following authorities that contributed to the work and to the many other people who offered comments and encouragement.
Bolton Council
Cheshire CC
Manchester City
Pendle BC
South Lakeland DC
Stockport MBC
Regional Middle Managers' 360° Feedback
Through the project it emerged that authorities were also interested in using the Middle Managers' Framework as the basis of a 360° tool. We have translated the framework into a Regional 360° Tool and, as there will be no design costs, the result is a very cost effective 360° tool.
We have also been working with authorities to integrate 360° feedback into other development processes and we have developed a model which provides rich feedback from a development centre, psychometric test and 360° feedback.
If you wish to discuss this in more detail or would like to examine how 360° feedback can complement your management development programme please contact Kelli Pickford, Director – Learning and Improvement, on 0161 214 7102, or click the link below to e-mail Kelli.
Kelli Pickford