The Foreign Service Journal, September 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2015 21 mer with requests for 360-degree reviews. Although we all have a responsibility to assist our colleagues and the organiza- tion as a whole by diligently filling out the reviews, the sheer volume of requests can be overwhelming. This could result in less comprehensive responses that don’t give a full portrait of the assessed employee. Put 360s into Perspective The State Department continues to make great strides in the area of leader- ship and management development. The Bureau of Consular Affairs’ pioneer- ing work has spread to several other bureaus, and the past year also witnessed the Secretary of State’s increased focus on fostering a culture of leadership and managerial excellence throughout the department. Certainly 360s can play a sig- nificant role in this process, but the focus must be on career development. The focus on development does not preclude the use of 360s for assignments, but the State Department should explore the following recommendations: • Immediately suspend the use of 360s in the Foreign Service assignment process pending the completion of a study, con- ducted by an outside consultant, on the effectiveness of their use. • Coordinate any decision on the use of 360-degree reviews for assignments with the Director General, and ensure that the Bureau of Human Resources directs the implementation. As the profes- sional association and bargaining unit of the Foreign Service, the American Foreign Service Association should also have input into this process. • Ensure that any plan to utilize 360-degree reviews in the assignment process is transparent. Members of the Foreign Service should know what is being said about them, even if the com- ments remain anonymous. • Tie the 360s, even if used for assign- ments, to career development. CDOs should discuss the results with clients and establish voluntary individual develop- ment plans involving additional training and coaching. All of us are ultimately responsible for our careers. But by adopting the above recommendations, the State Department could take a giant leap forward in foster- ing a supportive climate where personal growth and advancement are more attainable. n