Setup Guide

Learn how to structure your organization and set up teams for 360° evaluations. Follow along with our TechCorp example to see exactly how it works.

What is 360° Feedback?

Traditional reviews are top-down — a manager evaluates their team. 360° feedback collects input from every direction: managers, members, peers, and even a self-assessment. This gives a complete, well-rounded picture of each employee's performance, strengths, and growth areas.

↓

Downward

Manager → Member. The traditional review — managers evaluate the people they supervise.

↑

Upward

Member → Manager. Team members give feedback on their manager's leadership, communication, and support.

↔

Lateral

Member → Member. Colleagues at the same level evaluate each other on collaboration, reliability, and teamwork.

↻

Self

Self-assessment. Each person evaluates their own performance, providing insight into self-awareness and personal growth areas.

Example: TechCorp's Platform Team

Every evaluation assignment generated for a single team of 4 people

Team members:

Alex Rivera

Solution Architect

Manager

Jordan Lee

Senior Engineer

Member

Maya Patel

Engineer

Member

Chris Wu

Junior Engineer

Member
Downward FeedbackManager evaluates Members
Alex RiveraJordan Lee
Alex RiveraMaya Patel
Alex RiveraChris Wu
Upward FeedbackMembers evaluate Manager
Jordan LeeAlex Rivera
Maya PatelAlex Rivera
Chris WuAlex Rivera
Lateral / Peer FeedbackMembers evaluate each other
Jordan LeeMaya Patel
Jordan LeeChris Wu
Maya PatelJordan Lee
Maya PatelChris Wu
Chris WuJordan Lee
Chris WuMaya Patel
Self-AssessmentEveryone evaluates themselves
Alex RiveraAlex RiveraSelf
Jordan LeeJordan LeeSelf
Maya PatelMaya PatelSelf
Chris WuChris WuSelf
That's 16 evaluations automatically generated from just 4 people: 3 downward, 3 upward, 6 peer, and 4 self-assessments. Every team member both gives and receives feedback from multiple directions — that's the power of 360°.

The Full 360°: Alex Rivera Across Teams

Most people belong to multiple teams. Here's how feedback aggregates across all of Alex's teams.

Alex Rivera is a Manager of the Platform Team, but also a Member in the Engineering Management team (reporting to Sarah Chen). The 360° review combines feedback from both teams:

Feedback Alex receives (7 evaluations)
Sarah ChenAlexManagerEngineering Management
Priya SharmaAlexPeerEngineering Management
Dan KimAlexPeerEngineering Management
Jordan LeeAlexMemberPlatform Team
Maya PatelAlexMemberPlatform Team
Chris WuAlexMemberPlatform Team
Alex RiveraAlexSelfSelf-assessment
Evaluations Alex gives (7 evaluations)
AlexSarah ChenEvaluates their Manager
AlexPriya SharmaEvaluates a Peer
AlexDan KimEvaluates a Peer
AlexJordan LeeEvaluates a Member
AlexMaya PatelEvaluates a Member
AlexChris WuEvaluates a Member
AlexAlex RiveraSelf-assessment
Alex's final report will show scores broken down by relationship type — 1 manager, 2 peers, 3 members (upward feedback), and 1 self-assessment. This multi-perspective view reveals blind spots that a single manager review would miss. For example, Alex might rate their own communication highly, while members flag that status updates could be more frequent.

Why 360° feedback matters

Reduces bias

One manager's opinion is just one data point. 360° feedback balances multiple perspectives.

Surfaces blind spots

Peers and members see behaviors that managers don't. Upward feedback improves leadership.

Builds accountability

When feedback comes from all directions, everyone is accountable to everyone they work with.

Drives growth

Employees get specific, actionable feedback from the people who interact with them daily.