What is 360-degree feedback?

360-degree feedback is a comprehensive performance appraisal system that gathers input from various sources surrounding an employee. This method typically includes feedback from the employee’s supervisors, peers, subordinates, and sometimes customers or clients, providing a well-rounded view of an individual's performance and behavior in the workplace.

The advantage of this approach lies in its ability to collect diverse perspectives, ensuring that the feedback provided is not just a singular viewpoint but a collective overview of the employee’s performance. This diversity helps in identifying strengths and areas for improvement more accurately than methods relying on a single source of feedback.

In contrast, a method for personal goal setting focuses on individual aspirations rather than performance assessments, while a performance appraisal method from one source limits feedback to a single perspective. Lastly, a system for customer feedback only hones in on external opinions and does not consider the internal feedback from colleagues and supervisors, which is critical in a 360-degree feedback system.