Case Study 4
BBC 360 Degree Feedback - Leadership Development, Culture Change and Organisation Development
What was the client need?
The BBC Making It Happen team, led by Greg Dyke, had identified the need to develop the BBC’s leadership capability. The BBC needed to develop a performance culture and 360 degree feedback was seen as key to underpinning success.
What approach was used?
As part of the BBC Leadership Strategy Board, I led the planning, development and roll-out of a bespoke 360 degree feedback system and process (BBC 360). This involved leading my team to define the BBC Leadership Competency model (to support the Making it Happen "Lead More, Manage Well" team). We developed an in-house and online bespoke 360 feedback system and trialled the approach around the BBC with willing pilot groups to establish acceptance. The paperless data-collection approach (integrated into the BBC's e-mail and e-learning systems) facilitated very easy administration. We also trained around seventy BBC people to become facilitators around the corporation.
What was the outcome?
After initial reluctance and suspicion, BBC leaders have now widely accepted BBC 360 as part of the way they work. It was vitally important to ensure that data were kept confidential and every participant receives a one-to-one coaching session with a trained facilitator to get their results. Every BBC leader who attends the BBC Leadership Programme at Ashridge benefits from a feedback session that dovetails into a coaching relationship (these number nearly 4,000 feedback sessions so far). 360 feedback is consistently reported as one of the most valuable aspects of the entire BBC Leadership Programme.