If you're reading this, chances are you've just completed a review of the results of your Predictable Success Leadership 360 degree feedback.
Congratulations! You've taken a great step in your journey to becoming a Predictable Success CEO.
During my years of counselling many hundreds of your peers and colleagues, I've observed that while some founder/owners achieve impactful, lasting change as a result of acting on their 360 feedback, many - too many - see little or no impact on their management style or development.
I'd really like you to be in the former category, so here are the steps I've learned are most likely to maximise the results from your 360 feedback:
Choose just one or two areas to concentrate on
This might seem unambitious - maybe you see 5 or 6 items in the "Areas for Improvement" or "Blind Spot" lists that you'd really like to work on.
My experience tells me that choosing 6,5,4 - or even just 3 items to focus on distracts from the likelihood of effecting real, lasting change.
Instead choose one, maybe two items that you believe will make the biggest impact and focus solely on working at those items alone for six months.
At the end of that period, you can reassess (see later on how to do this), and if you have achieved a satisfactory improvement, you can always move on to other items on the list.
Have a "Help me understand more..." session
In order to really make a change in the one or two areas you've chosen to focus on, chances are, you will benefit from understanding more of why your observers responded as they did.
Use the process detailed at the end of each 'Quality' to extract more information from your observers on how to best address the issues you have chosen to work on.
Have a series of one-on-one discussions
After you have chosen the areas you want to work on, get out your diary and schedule a 20-30 minute one-on-one with each observer. Explain to them that you want to use the time to explore in more detail ways in which they can individually assist you in making the behavioral changes you're working on.
When you actually meet, take the opportunity to:
- Thank them personally for taking the time and effort to give you their feedback;
- Summarize what you have chosen to specifically work on, and explain why;
- Ask for specific ways in which they think they can help you make the needed changes, and
- Ask for their ongoing support and patience in the process.
Assess your progress
After six months, take a Predictable Success Micro-poll - an abbreviated 360 - on only the one or two items you have been working on. If you have achieved the progress you were looking for, go back to the original 360, select another one or two items (at most), and work the same system as above.
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Whether or not you have taken the Predictable Success Leadership 360 as part of a Predictable Success Coaching Program, if you feel that progress has stalled out on the items you are working on, don't hesitate to give us a call, or drop us an email - we're here to help at any time.
Be positive!
You're capable of great things, or you wouldn't have got to where you are now. Focus relentlessly on just one, or at most two key area, and you will see remarkable developments in your leadership style, and your progression to being a Predictable Success CEO.
Good luck!