These questions focus on the key capabilities required to lead effectively at an organisational level. They are developed from the expectations defined in the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) Professional Standard for Stage 4 Senior Leaders.
Our intention is to provide a clear and practical set of 360 degree feedback questions for leaders, capturing the core behaviours that underpin leadership success.
In this guide, we outline the most effective 360 feedback questions for leadership and the core and sub-areas covered, which are:
If you’re looking for a questionnaire designed around the expectations of managers operating at a team or operational level, see our article on 360 Feedback Questions for Managers. If your leader is new to the role, our 360 Feedback for New Senior Leaders - First 100 Days questionnaire is ideal.
Effective senior leaders consistently demonstrate Personal Effectiveness through four fundamental leadership capabilities: integrity and self-regulation, sound judgement and decision quality, resilience and adaptability and clear communication and presence. The statements below reflect critical behaviours that enable leaders to operate with credibility, influence and sustained impact.
Interpersonal Excellence reflects a leader’s ability to build trust, foster collaboration, empower others, and create an environment where people can contribute at their best. The behaviours below capture the interpersonal qualities that support strong relationships, team effectiveness and a positive organisational culture.
Organisational Performance reflects a leader’s ability to set direction, allocate resources effectively, drive progress, and ensure sustainable results. The behaviours below capture how senior leaders translate strategy into measurable outcomes, enable organisational change, and maintain a high-performance culture.
These capability areas provide a structured foundation for 360 feedback questions for leadership development at senior level. By grounding your 360 feedback questions for leaders in the CMI Professional Standard, you can be confident they reflect recognised, evidence-based leadership behaviour. For more on the CMI Stage 4 standards, visit the Chartered Management Institute.
Q. What are the most effective 360 feedback questions for senior leaders?
A. We believe these five behaviours are the clearest predictors of effective executive leadership and reflect the themes of trust, clarity, judgement, influence, and change leadership:
Q. What areas should be covered in a 360 feedback questionnaire for leaders?
A. Focus your questions on three key capability areas:
