360 Degree Evaluation Questions: Best Practices and Examples

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Jun 13, 2025

Let’s imagine a scenario.

You're the CEO of a small but growing startup. You’ve got a team of engineers, marketers, and salespeople working daily to make things happen. Lately, you have noticed the team dynamics are a bit off. As a boss, you wanted to get to the heart of the issue, but how do you know what’s really going on?

That’s when you decide to implement a 360-degree evaluation process.

Instead of relying on just your perspective or the feedback from a single department head, you gather insights from every angle: peers, direct reports, and even clients. The results are eye-opening. You learn that one of your quieter team members feels their voice isn’t heard in meetings. Others feel like their growth is being overlooked, and it’s affecting their motivation. Suddenly, you have a clear picture of what’s working and what needs attention.

This is the power of 360-degree feedback: it gives you a complete, multi-faceted view of how your team is performing, beyond just the surface.

In this guide, you'll find proven 360-degree evaluation questions, best practices, and smart tips to make your evaluations more impactful, honest, and growth-driven.

What is a 360 Degree Evaluation?

A 360-degree evaluation is a method of assessing employee performance by collecting feedback from different colleagues under the performance appraisal system. This creates a "full circle" or 360-degree view of their skills, behaviors, communication style, leadership abilities, and overall workplace impact.

The process typically involves 5 to 12 people, depending on your team size. This gives team members a clearer picture of how their actions and behaviors impact the team as a whole, which often looks very different from how they see themselves.

By hearing honest insights from others, they can recognize their strengths, uncover blind spots, and take meaningful steps to grow and improve.

Purpose of 360 Degree Evaluation Surveys:

Identify performance gaps
Support professional development
Guide promotions and career planning
Strengthen team collaboration

Sample 360 Degree Evaluation Survey Questions

Great feedback starts with the right questions. Here are sample 360° questions to unlock valuable perspectives from all directions.

Self-Evaluation Questions

These questions help team members reflect on their performance, strengths, weaknesses, and growth areas.

I clearly understand my role and job responsibilities.
I stay calm and motivated during challenging times in projects.
I always take accountability for my mistakes and learn from them.
How would you rate your communication skills on a scale of 1 to 5?
State any barriers that are preventing you from performing your best.
Is there something you would like to change in your work habits?

Peer Evaluation Questions

Sometimes your coworkers know you better than you know yourself. These questions help identify blind spots you might not even realize exist.

This employee listens to the ideas of others and respects them.
This person effectively manages conflict without escalating tensions.
This person is easy to collaborate with.
What impact does this employee have on the overall success of the organization?
Does this employee handle feedback professionally?
Can you share an example when this person supported the team in challenging times?

Manager/Supervisor Evaluation Questions

Great leaders empower, support, and inspire their teams to achieve more. These questions provide valuable feedback on leadership and management styles.

My manager is very approachable and supportive.
My manager recognizes and appreciates my good work.
My manager addresses and resolves concerns and issues fairly.
My manager effectively balances team needs with company goals.
Does your manager encourage personal development and growth?
How does a manager handle conflicts and disagreements within teams?

Customer or Client Feedback Questions

Your customers hold the key to your success; their feedback reveals what’s working and guides you toward the next big opportunity.

The service I received met my expectations.
I trust the company to deliver high-quality goods/services.
I feel valued as a customer/client by the team.
How satisfied are you with the product/service we provide?
Can you describe a recent experience where we exceeded your expectations?
What areas of our service need improvement?

Related read: 50 Best Customer Feedback Questions

360 Degree Evaluation Survey Use Cases

Explore how different teams can benefit from 360-degree performance reviews to enhance collaboration and growth.

360 Degree Evaluation Questions for Marketing Team

These questions assess how marketing team members collaborate on campaigns, manage projects, and engage with other departments like sales or product development.

How effectively does the marketing team collaborate with other teams?
Does the marketing team manage workload and timelines efficiently?
How well does the marketing team take feedback from other departments?
How aligned is the marketing team's work with the company’s overall goals and objectives?
Do you think the marketing team successfully maintains brand consistency across all platforms and campaigns?

360 Degree Evaluation Questions for Sales Teams

These questions help assess individual and team performance, collaboration, and the overall effectiveness of the sales department..

How does the sales team collaborate with other teams to close deals?
The sales team member consistently meets or exceeds sales targets.
How does the sales team handle feedback from the internal team and clients?
The sales team member stays organized and effectively manages their sales pipeline.
In what areas should the sales team improve its strategy?
Can you share an example where the sales team has successfully closed a challenging deal?

360 Degree Evaluation Questions for Customer Service Teams

These questions help evaluate customer service team members' effectiveness, communication skills, and overall performance.

The customer service team member maintains professionalism even under pressure.
How well does the customer service team resolve the issues?
The customer service team stays up to date with products to deliver accurate, updated information.
This team member takes ownership of issues until they're resolved.
How well does this team member manage their time and simultaneously handle multiple inquiries or cases?
In what ways could the customer service improve its response time?

360 Degree Evaluation Questions for Remote Teams

These 360-degree evaluation questions help assess how well team members collaborate, stay focused, and contribute to a thriving virtual workplace.

This team member actively participates in virtual meetings and discussions.
This team member communicates clearly and promptly in remote settings.
This team member contributes to a positive and supportive virtual team environment.
Is the team member efficient in managing their workload remotely?
Does the team member manage their time and meet deadlines while working remotely?

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What are the Best Practices for a 360 Degree Evaluation Survey

A 360-degree evaluation survey works best when it is rooted in a culture of growth, not judgment. Tell your team that this survey is an opportunity for them to learn, not just a list of mistakes. State your purpose of surveying from the very start so that they understand how much their honest feedback means to you.

Make sure surveys stay confidential and simple. Long, complicated surveys can overwhelm people, leading to unactionable data. Focus on questions that can spark conversations. Ensure the feedback leads to actionable goals, not just vague ideas like “communicate better,” but specific steps like enrolling in a communication workshop or leading a team project.

Tie goals to career development goals so employees see the development as a part of their growth journey. Build regular check-ins into your culture to track progress, celebrate wins, and show that feedback leads to real, meaningful change.

How to Conduct an Effective 360 Degree Evaluation Survey

Here’s a simple breakdown of how to conduct 360 evaluations using a survey:

Step 1: Start with a Clear Purpose

Before anything else, set a clear purpose for running 360-degree evaluation surveys. When employees understand the bigger goals behind the survey, they are more likely to be engaged and honest in providing feedback.

Step 2: Create a Questionnaire

Meaningful feedback starts with the right questions. We recommend using both open-ended and closed-ended questions. This combination helps you capture not just the "what," but also the "why" behind someone's performance.

You need a blend of 360-degree manager evaluation, peer feedback, and self-assessment questions to get real insights.

When you use TheySaid, you can create a custom 360-degree evaluation survey with just a few clicks:

Enter your organization's website URL (optional, but helpful). Choose "AI Survey" or "AI Interview." Select a template or have TheySaid instantly generate 360-degree evaluation questions tailored to your team and goals.

Step 3: Train Employees

Prepare employees with training sessions so they feel confident and not confused about the process. In these sessions, walk them through everything they need to know, like:

What a 360-degree evaluation actually is (and why it matters).
What kinds of questions they’ll be asked.
Who will be giving them feedback, and who they’ll be reviewing.
Real examples of what helpful feedback looks like (and how to use it for growth).
An open space where they can ask questions, share concerns, and get clear on the process.

Step 4: Distribute Surveys Easily Across Multiple Channels

TheySaid makes distribution painless. You can share your 360-degree evaluation surveys via:

Email invitations
In-app chats or notifications
Slack channels
QR codes for quick mobile access

Step 5: Let AI Analyze Responses and Surface Action Items

Once the responses are in, instead of spending days sorting through free-text responses manually, TheySaid’s AI:

Detects key trends automatically
Summarizes qualitative feedback
Highlights critical action items and follow-ups
Flag urgent feedback that needs leadership attention

Conclusion

When it comes to building stronger teams, better leaders, and a healthier workplace culture, 360-degree evaluation questions are one of your best tools.

By using thoughtful, targeted 360-degree evaluation questions and the right tools like TheySaid, you can turn feedback into action, and action into growth.

Key Takeaways

Know exactly why you're doing a 360-degree evaluation. Tell your team this isn’t about pointing fingers, it’s about helping everyone grow.
Use a blend of rating scale questions (easy to measure) and open-ended ones (to hear the real story behind the numbers).
Platforms like TheySaid make it easy to create 360-degree evaluation questions, send surveys out, and get clear action steps without spending weeks on it.
After the surveys are done, share the big takeaways with the team. Even simple things like “We heard you want more growth opportunities” show you’re taking feedback seriously.

FAQs

How often should you run a 360-degree evaluation survey?

Ideally, once or twice a year. This gives employees time to act on feedback and show real growth between evaluations.

Should 360-degree survey results be tied to promotions or raises?

Not directly. It's better to use 360 feedback for professional development and coaching rather than high-stakes decisions. It builds more honesty and trust in the process.

How can I encourage employees to take the 360-degree survey seriously?

Set the right tone from the start. Explain the purpose, protect confidentiality, and show that you genuinely use the feedback to make positive changes, not punish mistakes.