Ep84 Unmasking Bias in 360 Assessments

Send us Fan MailWhat if the 360 feedback you're receiving is more a reflection of human cognitive shortcuts than your actual performance? In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Amanda Potter—recently named Association of Business Psychologists Practitioner of the Year 2024—takes us behind the scenes of 360 assessments to reveal the hidden biases that distort results and undermine effectiveness.Our brains evolved to make quick judgements for survival, but these same mechanisms now create significant distortions in how we perceive and rate others. From contrast effect (where we compare individuals against each other rather than objective standards) to recency bias (overemphasizing recent events) and the halo/horns effect (letting one trait color our entire perception), these mental shortcuts compromise the validity of feedback at every stage of the 360 process.Dr. Amanda Potter the Chief Psychology Officer breaks down exactly how bias infiltrates each phase, from design and administration to completion and feedback conversations, while offering practical, science-backed strategies to minimize its impact. Learn why rigid capability models fall short, how standardized communication prevents experience bias, why a seven-point rating scale creates more accurate results, and how to facilitate feedback conversations that explore context rather than make judgements about character.This episode delivers exceptional value for HR professionals implementing 360 programs, leaders receiving feedback, and anyone involved in developing talent. You'll discover why psychological safety forms the foundation of honest feedback, how to ensure anonymity without sacrificing insight, and the critical balance between quantitative ratings and qualitative perspectives that creates truly developmental experiences.Whether you're designing a new 360 program or participating in one, this conversation will transform how you understand, administer, and interpret multi-source feedback. Connect with us on LinkedIn by searching for Caitlin Cooper and Dr. Amanda Potter, or visit www.thecpo.co.uk for more resources on bringing psychology into leadership development.Episodes are available here https://www.thecpo.co.uk/ To follow Zircon on LinkedIn and to be first to hear about podcasts, publications and news, please like and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betalent-by-zircon/ To access the research white papers mentioned in this and other podcasts, please go to: https://www.betalent.com/research For more information about the BeTalent suite of tools and platform please contact: [email protected]