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In this episode of The JoyPowered® Workspace Podcast, hosts JoDee Curtis and Susan White dive deep into the world of 360-degree feedback — a tool that can illuminate how leaders show up across every direction in their organization. Instead of relying on a single perspective, a 360 pulls in insights from peers, direct reports, managers, and often clients, along with a self-assessment. The result? A full-circle view of workplace behaviors, strengths, and opportunities for growth.

JoDee and Susan also welcome Kourtney McCauliff, Vice President of Consulting Services at Purple Ink, who shares her first-hand experience both administering and receiving 360s. Kourtney offers a grounded, practical, and human-centered look at how organizations can use this tool to develop leaders, build trust, and elevate team performance.

Key Takeaways

• A 360 is a development tool, not a disciplinary one. When positioned properly, it fosters learning, reflection, and meaningful leadership growth.
• Self-awareness gets a major boost. Leaders often discover gaps or strengths they didn’t fully see on their own.
• Consistency matters more than one-off comments. Patterns across raters point to the mot valuable insights.
• Trust is foundational. If confidentiality or intention is unclear, the process can backfire.
• The magic happens after the report. Coaching, debrief conversations, and clear action steps create real development.
• Strengths deserve celebration. 360s highlight what’s going well, not just areas for improvement.
• Organizational readiness comes first. If leaders aren’t open to hearing feedback, it’s best to pause.
• Tools vary. Choose one that aligns with your goals. From Microsoft Forms to SurveyMonkey to third-party systems like Talassure, the best platform is one that builds psychological safety and supports your intended outcomes.

Quote of the Episode

“I think companies are ready for this tool when they are ready to hear and use the feedback. It’s not just for the sake of getting it, but they’re really going to apply what they learn in the tool.” – Kourtney McCauliff

Mentioned in this episode

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• SurveyMonkey
• Microsoft Forms
• Google Forms
• Talassure 360
• Kourtney on LinkedIn
• Email Kourtney
• College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)
• LinkedIn Learning
• TED Talks
• Where Most People Work from Home – 2026 Study – SmartAsset, February 2026
• SHRM credit evaluation – the SHRM credit code for this episode will expire on March 23, 2027
• JoyPowered® Patreon page
• JoyPowered® on LinkedIn
• JoyPowered® on Instagram
• Email JoyPowered®