brendanwalsh22

Why 'Why?' is not always the question in a 360 Degree Feedback Debrief

Bowland Solutions — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:37:33 GMT

In a 360 Degree Feedback debrief, the debriefer has a chance to ask questions as they help the recipient explore their feedback; such as, Why did you do that? Why do you think they said this? Why do you find it difficult? Why are you uncomfortable with...(read more)

The power of targets - a cautionary tale from the seaside

Bowland Solutions — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:32:00 GMT

My 14 year old daughter and I had two to three hours to kill at the seaside (Normandy, since you ask). We played "bat and ball". We had to use a ping pong ball as the rubber ball had been lost ... no need to revisit the tensions around that...(read more)

Guest post on being a feedback junkie

Bowland Solutions — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:45:08 GMT

We are delighted to share a guest post from Tony Philips of 'The Coaching Approach' - Tony works as a coach with a diverse range of business people and is also an exceptional facilitator who we have been fortunate to have work with us for a number...(read more)

360 degree feedback....hey, tell me something I DO know...!

Bowland Solutions — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:36:51 GMT

Very often when we are conducting 360 degree feedback or employee surveys, there are often points in the debrief or sharing of the feedback, which prompts the recipient or organisation to say 'Yes, I guessed I might see that feedback' or 'Yes...(read more)

'Crowdsourcing' your performance appraisals; a recipe waiting to happen?

Bowland Solutions — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:39:00 GMT

Forgive the mixed idiom, but it highlights a growing topic of conversation around the seemingly 'new' recipe for performance reviews, coupled with a hesitancy at the potential problems that might befall it. 'Crowdsourcing' simply put in...(read more)

360 degree feedback debriefs; a little more conversation, a little less action

Bowland Solutions — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:43:09 GMT

Having recently delivered another training session on how to conduct 360 degree feedback debriefs, I am always struck by the different ways in which the delegates approach the role-plays; in every case some great learning emerges which the group collectively...(read more)

Stack ranking at Microsoft

Bowland Solutions — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:32:28 GMT

I'm sure a number of us have read Jack Welch's books and management advice. One of the key HR topics has been his advocating of an approach to performance management where the bottom 10% were identified and let go. A recent article in Vanity Fair...(read more)

Performance Appraisal survey results now available

Bowland Solutions — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:52:41 GMT

We have now closed our online survey 'Implementing Performance Appraisals' and have a report available in PDF format; if you would like a copy then just email me directly at john@bowlandsolutions.com. Headline messages: 63% complete performance...(read more)

Sustainable behavioural change; using 360 degree feedback to help embed values

Bowland Solutions — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:12:27 GMT

Just reading an article in Training Zone by Tom Quayle of 'The Chemistry Group' which talks about the challenges of creating lasting behavioural change and some pointers as to how to make it happen. There are some good insights into motivational...(read more)

Performance Appraisals taking a step backwards?

Bowland Solutions — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:32:31 GMT

The news outlined in this People Managment article of proposed reforms to the practice of performance appraisals within the Civil Service smacks of the Jack Welch, GE mindset, of yesteryear. The 'bottom' 10% of performers could face pay cuts,...(read more)

Guest Blog Post - 4 tips for giving feedback

Bowland Solutions — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

We are delighted to share a guest post this week from Kevin Watson of My Own Coach , a great company we have the privilege of working with on many leadership and team development initiatives; here Kevin offers some thoughtful reminders of what success...(read more)

Banks, cultures, values and behaviours

Bowland Solutions — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:11:57 GMT

Before continuing I feel obliged to say that I worked for a bank (HSBC) for 11 years. I left in 2001. Last night I was listening to a previous executive of Barclays discussing the failure of culture, values and behaviour within his old company - and I...(read more)

360 Degree Feedback slicing through 'Self-serving' biases

Bowland Solutions — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:51:34 GMT

A nice little article on the Harvard Business Review blog from McKinsey highlights essentially the idea that most of us are predisposed to rate ourselves better than our peers, direct reports, etc especially in behaviour-related areas and how 360 degree...(read more)

What next after 360 degree feedback? Start in the right place with this top 5

Bowland Solutions — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:53:58 GMT

We have spoken many times about how 360 degree feedback ideally raises self-awareness within an individual and should have them take responsibility for the feedback and accept there is something worth paying attention to. The move from the 360 feedback...(read more)

Is this 'seven second' performance appraisal throwing the baby out with the bath water?

Bowland Solutions — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:20:26 GMT

This article in People Management regarding the new approach by mining company, First Quantum Minerals, which hangs on the idea of a 'seven second' performance appraisal form, reminds of the appeal associated with those '2 second' pop...(read more)