HR Leaders and Executive Coaches: Don’t Fall for These 4 Industry Tricks

You May Be Paying More—for Less—In Your 360 Surveys

Many 360 survey vendors present a polished process. But beneath the surface, their business model often puts profits above outcomes. If you’re doing more work, paying more, and seeing less impact—it’s time to take a closer look.

If you’ve ever opened a 360 report and thought, “I need someone to explain this,” you’re not alone—and it’s not accidental.

Most vendors intentionally make reports overly complex. Dense language, layered charts, and unclear summaries create confusion. Why? Because when leaders can’t interpret the data, vendors offer paid experts to do it for them. It’s a second sale—one that’s more profitable than the survey itself.

The result:

You pay once for the survey—and again to make sense of it. Leaders become dependent on external experts, and vendors profit more from the complexity than from delivering clear insight in the first place.

You do the work. They keep the profit.

Self-service platforms sound efficient—until you realize it means you’re doing it all. You build the survey, manage the participant list, send reminders, and generate reports. Meanwhile, your vendor charges as if they’re running the show.

The catch:

By shifting the workload to your team, vendors cut their own costs—yet continue charging full-service rates. You take on the effort. They walk away with higher margins.

Think your 360 survey is tailored to your organization’s needs? Think again.

Many vendors won’t let you adjust the questions because your feedback fuels their benchmark database. Customization isn’t difficult, but they need your data to stay consistent—so they can resell it.

What it means for you:

You’re not just a client—you’re also a data source. It’s less about helping your leaders grow and more about growing their business.

Many 360 vendors include an action planning worksheet at the end of a very long report—or skip it entirely—and consider the job done.

That’s a problem. You invested in 360 feedback to help your leaders grow—but some vendors frame success around the survey experience rather than real improvement. A smooth process and polished reports create the impression of value, persuading customers that the experience itself is the outcome—even when there’s little evidence of actual change.

The bottom line:

Vendors walk away with glowing reviews for an impressive process—while you’re left justifying the investment, without measurable results to show for it.

STAR360feedback: Designed for Growth—Not Dependence

At STAR360feedback, we believe 360 feedback should be clear, actionable, and empowering—not a system that traps you in expert upsells and complexity.

Here’s how we’re different:

  • Clear, Self-Debriefing Reports Leaders get instant clarity and personal action steps—no expert required. 

  • Customizable Surveys Tailor every question to reflect your culture, leadership model, and priorities.

  • Full-Service Support, One Straightforward Price We manage the process from start to finish—without hidden fees or upcharges.

  • Integrated Action Planning Built-in tools help leaders move from feedback to action starting on day one.

The Result? A 360 Experience That Sparks Growth

With STAR360feedback, leaders take ownership of their development. They build practical action plans, track progress, improve performance, and celebrate success. You don’t just collect data—you create change.

It’s Time to Expect More From Your 360

Thousands of HR leaders and executive coaches have already made the switch to STAR360feedback. Are you ready to join them?

See How It Works →