Introduction: What are 360 Stakeholder Interviews?

As a leader, it’s important to have a clear sense of your performance and how others view your leadership style. While your own perception and that of your immediate supervisor can be useful, it’s also a good idea to gather feedback from a wide range of other perspectives. This is where 360 stakeholder interviews come in. At Wehmeyer Leadership Coaching, we call these interviews “360 Lives” and they are a powerful tool for leaders and teams looking to gain a holistic view of their performance and identify areas for improvement.

Through the 360 Live process, leaders can collect feedback from a variety of sources, including direct reports, peers, supervisors, and external stakeholders. This can provide valuable insight into their strengths and weaknesses, as well as blind spots that they may not have been aware of. By seeing themselves through the eyes of others, leaders can gain a more accurate understanding of their performance, and identify areas where they need to focus  their  development efforts.

The Benefits of 360 Stakeholder Interviews for Leadership Development

One of the key benefits of a 360 stakeholder interview is that it provides a holistic view of the leader’s performance. Rather than relying solely on the leader’s own perception or that of their immediate supervisor, a 360 interview collects feedback from a wide range of perspectives. This can help leaders gain a stronger understanding of their unique strengths, opportunities for growth, and necessary areas of improved awareness or focus. 

What Perspectives can be Included in a 360 Stakeholder Interview?

360 stakeholder interviews typically involve collecting feedback from a variety of perspectives, including:

• Direct reports: employees under direct management of the leader being assessed.
• Peers: colleagues at the same organizational level as the leader being assessed, such as other department heads or managers.
• Supervisors: the leader’s own supervisor or other higher-level managers.
• Subordinates: employees who do not report directly to the leader, but work closely with them on a regular basis.
• Customers: clients or customers who interact with the leader or their team.
• Partners: individuals or organizations that collaborate with the leader or their team.
• Suppliers: vendors or other suppliers who work with the leader or their team.

The Importance of Multiple Perspectives in Leadership Evaluation

According to insights from ‘The Predictive Index,’ it is essential for leaders, including senior leaders, to be reviewed by individuals at all levels of the company, as ‘trust in the leadership team’ has been identified as a top driver of engagement.

Including feedback from these different perspectives can provide a more comprehensive picture of the leader’s standout attributes and help identify areas for improvement. Additionally, by gathering feedback from a variety of stakeholders, leaders can gain insight into how their actions and decisions impact others and the organization as a whole.

360 stakeholder interviews allow leaders to see themselves as others see them. This can be especially valuable for leaders who may be inclined to overestimate their strengths or downplay their weaknesses or vice versa. By seeing themselves through the eyes of others, leaders can gain a more balanced perspective on their performance and identify areas where they need to focus their development efforts. Click here to learn what kind of questions are typically asked during a “360 Live” interview.

Using 360 Stakeholder Interviews to Identify Blind Spots and Areas for Improvement

Blind spots are areas where leaders may not be aware of their weaknesses or where they may be unintentionally causing friction within their team. By gathering feedback from a variety of stakeholders, “360 Lives” can help leaders identify blind spots and work to address them. Additionally, by identifying areas for improvement, leaders can focus their development efforts in a targeted and effective way.

Improving Communication and Relationships with 360 Stakeholder Interviews

360 stakeholder interviews can also be an effective tool for improving communication and relationships within a team or organization. By collecting feedback from a variety of stakeholders, leaders can gain insights into how their behavior and communication style impact others and identify areas where they may need to make adjustments to better support their team. This can lead to more open and effective communication, and stronger, more cohesive teams.

Combining “360 Lives” with Coaching for Maximum Impact

At Wehmeyer Leadership Coaching, we have found that 360 Live stakeholder interviews can be particularly effective when combined with coaching. With the guidance of a skilled coach, leaders can use the feedback gathered through a 360 interview to develop actionable strategies for improvement, and work to implement these changes in their daily leadership practices. This can help to reinforce the learning and development process, and ensure that leaders are able to make lasting changes to their behavior and leadership style.

To gain further insights into the power of combining 360 stakeholder interviews with coaching, check out this informative article by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic on Forbes: ‘How to Use 360-Degree Feedback for Executive Coaching.”

Conclusion: Leveraging 360 Stakeholder Interviews for Leadership Development

In conclusion, 360 stakeholder interviews are an essential tool for leaders and teams looking to improve their performance and communication. By gathering feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, leaders can gain valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots, and work to develop targeted strategies for improvement. When combined with coaching, these interviews can be even more effective, providing a powerful catalyst for growth and development.

At Wehmeyer Leadership Coaching, we believe that 360 stakeholder interviews, or “360 Lives,” are a critical component of effective leadership development. If you’re interested in learning more about how these interviews can benefit your leadership style and team’s performance, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our experienced coaches can work with you to tailor the interview process to meet your unique needs and goals, and guide you through the process of using feedback to drive growth and improvement. Contact us today to learn more.

Contact Wehmeyer Leadership Coaching

If you’re interested in learning more about how the 360 Live process can benefit your leadership development or team’s performance, don’t hesitate to contact us at Wehmeyer Leadership Coaching. Our team of experienced coaches can work with you to tailor the interview process to meet your unique needs and goals, and guide you through the process of using feedback to drive growth and improvement. Contact us today to learn more.