As new leaders step into their first leadership roles, the path ahead often shrouds in a mix of excitement and trepidation. They're eager to make an impact, yet the weight of responsibility can be daunting. Enter the narrative 360—a highly effective, yet under-utilized tool designed to shed light on the path forward towards leadership success.
What’s a Narrative 360?
Imagine if you could step into the shoes of everyone around you at work. A narrative 360 does just that—it’s a process that allows you to see yourself through the eyes of those you work with. Here's how it works:
A 3rd party (i.e., moi, your leadership coach!) seeks feedback from a pre-selected group of your peers via a confidential conversation (most often by phone) to gain as many different perspectives as possible. For example,
The Team's Perspective: Some or all your direct reports provide feedback on how you lead, communicate, and support them.
Your leader's View: Your boss weighs in. They share insights on your decision-making, problem-solving, and overall impact on the team.
Peer Insights: Your colleagues—those you work alongside—offer their perspectives. They share thoughts on your collaboration skills, influence, and contributions.
Client or Customer Feedback: Lastly, if you work directly with clients or customers, their input is also often included. This reflects how they perceive your service, communication, and meeting their needs.
The process of Narrative 360’s gathers all these viewpoints into one comprehensive picture of your leadership style. It's like creating a mosaic with pieces from different perspectives, forming a clearer image of who you are as a leader. What emerges is not just a picture but a roadmap—a clear guide to areas for growth and development. Together with your coach, we create a plan to focus a key areas that surfaced and check in to ensure the intended change is created over a few short months through adjustments in habits.
Most people read this and will generally fall in one of two trains of thought:
Are you kidding me? Who would subject themselves to this?!? Or...
Interesting! I would love to get this type of feedback and know what people really think.
For those at the center of this process, however, it's natural for anxieties to surface. The idea of opening oneself up to feedback from various angles can trigger a wave of apprehension. Yet, it's precisely in this discomfort that growth can happen. THIS is the type of vulnerability they talk about in leadership development books!
If you are one of those folks that cringe at the thought of being at the center of this process, I get it. It isn’t for everyone – and that’s OK! But if you’re also feeling “stuck” in your growth or career, or wondering what else you need to do to feel seen at work, or wondering why you seem to be getting passed on for promotions, hear me out just a little longer...
What can a narrative 360 do for you?
This process helps you see your strengths in action and identifies areas where you can grow. It essentially heightens your level of self-awareness.
With a clearer understanding of your strengths and growth areas, you can focus your efforts on what matters most. This is how you get the most impact in the least amount of time.
By understanding how others perceive you, you can strengthen connections with your team, manager, peers, and clients/customers. This happens all the time. As leaders engage with feedback and take steps towards growth, relationships within teams AND across departments flourish. Authenticity breeds trust, and it fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Undergoing this process communicates to others that you're taking proactive steps toward becoming an even better leader. It also makes you a model for growth amongst your peers – and it tends to be contagious. So, while you might be the initial “target”, it also creates an opportunity for your feedback providers to reflect on their own habits and/or roles in workplace dynamics.
Many leaders who undergo narrative 360s find themselves on the fast track to promotion, their honed skills setting them apart in a competitive landscape.
The benefits of a narrative 360 extend far beyond the initial discomfort. Leaders who undergo this process emerge stronger, more resilient, and generally better equipped to navigate the complexities of leadership.
Still feeling a little hesitant? Fear not, or…feel the fear but do it anyway!
As with anything in life, we don’t advance by avoiding our fears. Rather than thinking about being in battle or in confrontation with your fears, why not use them to intuitively guide you to the root of the issue. For example,
if you fear being criticized, know this: Every critique, no matter how sharp, is an opportunity for growth or evolution. And just as an FYI – never, in the 5 years of doing narrative 360’s, has a feedback provider personally attacked their peer in their feedback. The focus is on your habits – not YOU. There is a difference.
If you fear uncovering blind spots, consider the feedback as a chance to align our self-perception with reality.
If you fear having to change some of your ways, remember growth and evolution need change. Instead of fearing change, see it as a force propelling you towards your fullest potential.
If you fear being vulnerable, know that vulnerability is not weakness—it's a mark of immense courage. It takes strength to lay bare one's imperfections.
So, to the new and emergent leaders standing on the threshold of growth, stuck between fear and possibility, remember this: the discomfort you feel is the precursor to transformation. Embrace it, lean into it, and watch as it propels you forward on your leadership journey.
A narrative 360 is not just a process—it's a testament to your commitment to growth, your courage to confront fears, and your dedication to becoming the leader you aspire to be. Step boldly into the feedback, as it has within it the recipe for your success.
In the words of John F. Kennedy, "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." Embrace the narrative 360 as your compass, guiding you towards leadership excellence. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable.
If you are looking for a more customized leadership development experience, leadership coaching may be the better option to get you to your professional development goals faster. Book a complimentary “Discovery Call” to discuss your goals and see if working with a leadership coach might be the way to go.