Assessments 101 by Glenn Stevenson: OSI
OSI Polaris 360
This month we enter the world of 360s. These assessments are done in executive coaching. The term 360 refers to the 360 degrees in a circle, and a 360 assessment gathers feedback on an executive’s performance from his or her supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates. They may also seek input from the employee him- or herself and/or customers.
There are dozens if not hundreds of 360s available, as a Google search on “360 assessment” reveals. At the time of writing, 77 sponsored links emerge from this Google search alone!
360s can be difficult for a coach to debrief because an executive may hone in on the question, “What did people say bad about me?” The skill of a coach in handling the emotional reaction of the person is essential. Also, some companies use their own 360s, so in this case being certified in a particular 360 may have less value.
The 360 assessment I review for this article is the OSI Polaris 360. This assessment comes from a relative small company in San Diego, but a couple of local coaches use it with confidence.
This is the tenth in the Insights series on assessments. For an index of assessments already reviewed and a list of assessments yet to be described, see the end of this article.
Assessment: OSI Polaris 360
Description: The OSI Polaris 360 consists of 88 questions and takes about 30 minutes to complete. It identifies 41-42 leadership and management skills. It can be applied to CEOs down to the manager level. The questions are submitted to the subject’s supervisor, peers, and direct reports. A minimum of 3 peers and 3 direct reports are required, because their answers are combined.
Upon survey completion, participants and/or his/her managers receive detailed, individualized reports that include graphs and written comments. This information is used to develop individualized action plans for selection, development, or appraisal purposes.
Certification: Certification is required by OSI for their Polaris 360. They provide a one-day workshop in San Diego to provide the requisite training. Their contact information is:
Organization Systems International
5230 Carroll Canyon Road, Suite 326
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 455-0923
Fax: (858) 455-6161
mail@orgsysinc.com
http://orgsysint.com
Cost of Training/Certification: $395
Cost of Instrument: $190-$200
Other Information: OSI also offers two other 360 assessments, the Polaris for Professionals (for employees without management responsibilities) and the Polaris for Trainers (for assessing the skills, knowledge, and abilities of internal and external training professionals).
Assessments Previously Reviewed in Insights:
| October 2007: | Myers-Briggs Type Indicator | click here for article |
| November 2007: | DiSC | click here for article |
| December 2007: | Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II | click here for article |
| January 2008: | Enneagram | click here for article |
| February 2008: | The Birkman Method | click here for article |
| March 2008 | Personal Style Indicator | click here for article |
| April 2008 | PeopleMap | click here for article |
| May 2008 | Real Colors® | click here for article |
| June 2008 | MAPP | click here for article |
Assessments to Be Reviewed in Future Issues:
Cerny Smith Adjustment Index and Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument.
Glenn Stevenson. Ph.D., is a life coach and career transition coach who specializes in self-confidence, relationships coaching, and helping people find the work that they love. He specializes in people’s sense of self and their finding satisfaction in who they are and what they do. He may be contacted at glenn@myselfsense.com, 714-468-9963, www.myselfsense.com
