It was that time of the year when we receive our scores from the 360 degree feedback process within the organisation. I waited with anxiety as the results file was opening up on the laptop. In those moments, as I thought about the year that passed by and tried to remember my interactions with each and every person in the team, it occurred to me that this was the most important feedback for me to consider!

Going back a few years, during my days in the Army, we were taught that as an officer, you have to lead by example at all times and under all situations, command your men and take care of them at the same time. That shaped my thought process about leadership and naturally, as is the wont in a hierarchy driven organisation, it was a top-down approach. I decide, you follow. I direct, you act.

Entrepreneurship was similar, as everyone was looking up to me for what to do, how to do, and when to do. I had to lead from the front, show direction, and be on top of the situation. So in that sense, it was closer to my Army experience.

Corporate life has been different in this regard. I have had to learn quite a few things about how to work with people from similar experiences and backgrounds and still lead them. It has been a different learning – about leading by example but with a degree of flexibility. Ensuring that I listen to the other team members and incorporate their feedback / suggestions and then direct them in the pursuit of the common goal.

In situations which the Armed Forces find themselves in during a regular day’s work, a top-down approach works well and ensures chances of survival go up in a high-pressure, do-or-die scenario. Also because officers and men are differentiated on multiple factors, officers are generally better equipped to handle the situation and take decisions and are trained accordingly.

In the corporate world though, perhaps because goals are much more collectively decided, their pursuit is also collective. We discuss, we finalise, we execute. And we learn and try to do better next time. Also as our peers or juniors may have had exposure to a similar situation, their feedback/suggestions carry that much more weight. In essence, its more flat.

Reflecting this upon our lives, I realised that we tend to behave/act in a top-down manner with the belief that we are better equipped to handle that situation than anyone else. While this helps us retain control of our lives, it also prevents us from getting some real-time feedback and suggestions from others around us.

In life, a top-down approach might be warranted in some cases but in most situations, a flatter approach is what will take us home. Listening to our family, friends and younger ones, discussing with them, and working with them while utilising their experience in such a situation may well be the difference between a strike and a miss-hit.

Living life this 360 way is what I have resolved to do better on as I turn 38 today!

As to my 360 degree feedback score from within my organisation, it turned out well with some great feedback of course. Which I am definitely working towards implementing…