Go on, tell your boss what you think of him

Telling your bosses what you think of them is good for the organisation, according to research by the Institute of Employment Studies. The so-called "360-degree review" in which the individual manager receives "personal feedback" from subordinates, colleagues and customers is essential for the development of executives, who can be isolated and insulated, the institute found. It made a study of eight organisations including BT, the Post Office and BP. However, the report counsels that criticism must be constructive because it can be "quite devastating". Such schemes have to be "formal" but not too highly structured, otherwise they can limit the amount recipients learn about themselves.

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