How a Regular 360 Review Can Improve Team Collaboration & Productivity
They say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And if you’ve ever worked with others, you know the same can be said of a team. Any number of factors can cause a team to falter—a weak leader, a lack of trust, poor communication, a scarcity of resources, and the list goes on. Likewise, a variety of factors can lead a team to success—like a strong leader, high levels of trust, good communication, adequate resources, and the list goes on.
So, how can you know where your team stands on these and other factors? That’s easy—by conducting a regular 360 review. Keep reading for 3 ways this essential feedback tool can help improve team collaboration and productivity.
1. A Regular 360 Review Can Identify Your Team’s Issues
When you’re a member of a team, there are so many variables at play that it can be difficult to see the forest for the trees. Team size also can cloud your view and make you think this is the problem when really, it’s that. Because a 360 review collects feedback from all across the team, it can create a more complete picture of the team and how it works (or doesn’t). As a result, a recurring theme will carry more weight. You’re more likely to pay attention if every member says the team is a little lax with deadlines than if just one team member mentions it.
Once you understand what exactly is going on, both in terms of strengths and weaknesses, you’ll be better equipped to figure out what needs to happen next. Some solid next steps include celebrating the strengths, finding opportunities to take advantage of those strengths, and creating an action plan for working out the weaknesses.
2. A 360 Review Is a Communication Tool
Communication can be a tricky thing. It’s a cornerstone to every successful relationship, and yet, it can be so hard to get right. A 360 review can help in multiple ways.
For starters, a 360 review literally forces the issue by getting team members thinking about how the team is performing. Once the feedback is in, a 360 review can reveal issues about team communication, highlighting what’s working well, as well as what isn’t.
And here’s the real kicker: A regular 360 review also can be a catalyst for communication. A conversation starter, if you will. And when teams can communicate, teams can collaborate and be more productive.
3. A 360 Review Can Help Improve Psychological Safety
A seminal study on what we now know as “psychological safety” found that the best nurse leaders had teams that committed the most medical errors. Say WHAT? Well, it’s not that they actually committed more medical errors; it’s that their awesome leader made them feel like it was OK to report errors. In other words, they felt psychologically safe.
According to the Harvard Business Review, team psychological safety is a “shared belief held by members of a team that it’s OK to take risks, to express their ideas and concerns, to speak up with questions, and to admit mistakes—all without fear of negative consequences.”
When teams feel psychologically safe, it can have a positive effect on team collaboration and productivity. So where does the regular 360 review fit into all of this? That’s simple—psychological safety hinges on feedback and the importance of cultivating a culture where team members feel comfortable giving and receiving it regularly.
Ready to unlock your team’s potential with a regular 360 review? Look no further than the Team Survey from G360 Surveys. The survey measures four competencies of high-performing teams, including psychological safety. Register for an account to get started today.
