If you’ve ever had to organize a 360-degree performance review, you probably know the pain I’m about to describe.
Picture this: a never-ending maze of forms, access permissions, and constant back-and-forth emails. That was my life until I decided enough was enough.
Here’s how my frustration led to creating 360 Review Club, and why I think it might just make your life a whole lot easier, too.
The Background Story: Why This Was Personal
For the past 8 to 10 years, I’ve managed teams ranging from 30 to 60 people. During that time, I tried every tool you can think of — from big-name HR software suites to trusty old Google Forms for smaller teams.
While I knew exactly what I needed to set up a comprehensive performance review, it was never as simple as it should be. Setting up a review would eat up a lot of my time,
Time that could have been better spent on leading and supporting my team.
And it didn’t stop there. Once the review cycle was complete, the next time-draining task was gathering and analyzing the results. It felt like no matter which tool I used, the process always ended up more complicated and labor-intensive than it needed to be. That’s when I decided to change things.
The Google Forms Chaos: My Breaking Point
I’ll be honest, I thought using Google Forms would be my golden ticket to smooth performance reviews. It seemed so simple: create a form, send it out, collect responses, done.
But when I scaled up to over 40 people, things got out of hand fast. Managing different forms for different roles, keeping track of who had access to what — it was like trying to manage a circus with no ringmaster. I spent hours fixing access issues and troubleshooting confused team members’ questions. At one point, I remember thinking, “Is this really worth it?” (Spoiler: it wasn’t.)
HR Software Overload: The Unwanted Complexity
When the Google Forms chaos became too much, I tried looking at professional HR software. I thought, surely there’s something out there that will do exactly what I need.
But what I found was feature bloat on a whole new level. These platforms offered recruitment, payroll, and even office snack tracking (okay, not really, but it felt like it). And all of them came with a hefty monthly subscription fee per user.
Paying for a subscription that runs all year for a tool I only needed twice a year? No thanks 😡 It felt like signing up for a buffet when all I wanted was a sandwich.
The “Aha!” Moment: Building 360 Review Club
One night, after another frustrating day of wrestling with forms and complex HR software, it hit me:
I’m a programmer. I can write code. And honestly, 360-degree performance reviews aren’t that complicated. If the perfect tool didn’t exist in the market, maybe it was up to me to create it. I saw an opportunity not just as a developer, but as a craftsman who enjoys building practical solutions. So, I dove in, and two weeks later, 360 Review Club was ready.
Simple, straightforward, and tailored exactly to what I needed.
Keeping It Simple and Free for Everyone
I created 360 Review Club for my own use, but as I shared it with friends and colleagues, I realized I wasn’t alone. Other teams and companies were facing the same challenges. So, I decided to make it available to everyone for free.
Why? Because I believe in tools that help, not hinder. And if I struggled with the complexity of performance reviews, chances are you might be, too.
Join the Club (Minus the Headaches)
If you’re tired of spending hours setting up reviews or paying for features you don’t need, try 360 Review Club.
It’s free, it’s simple, and you can set it up in just 5 minutes. Performance reviews may never be fun, but at least they don’t have to be a nightmare.
Your Story Matters: I’d love to hear your own experiences with performance reviews. What’s been your biggest struggle, and how have you managed to overcome it? Share in the comments or reach out to me — because we’re all in this together.
