Should performance reviews include upward feedback? I’ve always believed managers should be held accountable too, but in most places I’ve worked, reviews only go one way—top-down. I’ve had team members tell me privately what they appreciated or what didn’t work, but there’s rarely a formal space for it. And when upward feedback does exist, it often feels like it goes into a black hole. Shouldn’t managers be evaluated just like everyone else? If your company includes upward feedback, is it actually used to improve leadership?

likesmart
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If you can give feedback but not receive it, you’re not a leader—you’re just in charge. Real accountability means hearing the hard stuff too, even when it stings.

likeuplifting

I ask my team constantly for feedback, how I can best support them, things I could improve on etc. It puzzles me that managers would not want to know how they're doing, it's key to the team's success and work environment.

like

Upward feedback isn’t performance-based, but rather leadership-based. Quite unfortunate it’s not on the same level of feedback you receive in downward feedback. It’s technically anonymous at my job, but people shy away from giving any kind of feedback this way as they feel it's a setup.

like

Upward feedback counts at Google. Managers can land in bottom buckets, and thus face low/no bonus or job loss if their reports give low scores on an annual manager responsibilities survey.

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