Anonymous Feedback - A Good or Bad Thing?

kevin@moviechurch.com — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:00:00 +0100

Are you a fan of 360 degree performance appraisals? Does the anonymous nature of the feedback bother you? We're nearing the end of the process now and it's been interesting. The assessments have been published and the staff is now reading, considering, and responding to their feedback.

I’ve done this a number of times and this time is no exception. In my case 98% of the assessment is right on, accurately identifying both my strengths and weaknesses. However, there are a few comments that “sting” a bit. I’m not necessarily surprised by them. It’s just a little difficult to see them in writing and to have to deal with them. Ouch!

A typical 360 degree review includes a self assessment and assessments by an individual’s manager, peers, and direct reports. Of course, in the church direct reports most often include a number of volunteers. The assessments are typically completed anonymously; assessors provide feedback without identifying themselves. In fact, the data is collected online and processed by a “third party company” (C3 Statistical Solutions) ensuring the anonymity is maintained.

The obvious advantage of anonymous feedback is that a person gets the “straight scoop” on the perception of others. In my experience there are a number of things a person thinks that they are not necessarily willing to tell me to my face. It is, never the less, important that I know about these perceptions in order to improve my relationships and overall effectiveness over time. Make sense?

Here’s the issue … especially in the church shouldn’t everyone be expected to speak the truth to one another face-to-face? In Matthew 18 Jesus teaches us how to workout our differences. Isn’t it true that if one is not willing to say it to a person’s face it shouldn’t be said anonymously in a review?

The truth is no matter how good we are at creating a “speak the truth to one another” culture in the church, there’s always going to be a certain amount of opinion that is not shared. There’s always going to be a certain amount of unresolved conflict. It’s the human condition. We’re all still sinners, remember?

So what do I say to the people that are thinking, “How do I resolve the conflict if I don’t know who gave me the feedback?” Good question! I’ve struggled with this question since I was first trained in giving and receiving feedback using 360 degree assessment tools. Here are a couple of facts. The chances are good (especially in a larger organization) that if one person is thinking it, others are as well. Therefore, the issue is not who said it … it’s what do I need to do to address it? And, in practice, there is plenty of opportunity to have one-on-one discussions with the team providing the feedback to ask questions about the feedback. Most often, especially in a healthy environment, people will “come clean” and help a person better understand what it is about their behavior that resulted in a criticism or observation.

In my opinion, doing an anonymous 360 on a regular basis is the best way to improve over time. It’s not painless, but it is the best way to really understand how what I am (or am not) doing affects others.

What do you think?

Executive Pastor Online - March 2008

Anonymous Feedback - A Good or Bad Thing?