Constructive criticism
Constructive criticism within the context of a working team
Agorans speak and act with care, understanding that words and actions carry real weight. When offering feedback or criticism, they approach with thoughtfulness, knowing that problems are often far more difficult to solve than they first appear. They resist the temptation to tear down hastily, recognizing that building lasting solutions requires patience, humility, and a deep respect for the unseen work behind every system. In this way, they cultivate progress, not division, ensuring that every critique moves the group forward rather than pulling it apart.
The process Agorans follow is:
- Investigate why a system, technology, or process was built the way it was
- Bring concerns first to those empowered to make changes
- E.g. for technical issues, address the technical team, not the moderation team.
- Write a detailed solution that frames the problem as a shared challenge while being solution-focused.
Feedback comparison
Constructive |
Counterproductive |
|
| Forum | Given in a proper forum like a retrospective | Posted in a general chat channel or spoken in a voice channel |
| Framing | Posted with a "how might we" card framing the problem as a challenge to be overcome together | Only highlights the problem and offers no solution |
| Intent | Clearly aimed at helping improve outcomes | Primarily intended to vent anger or score points |
| Objective | Gives the critiqued the benefit of the doubt. Avoids singling out people | Blames a group or individual. |
| Humility | Given understanding solutions take time, knowing the outcome may not align with your vision. | Given with personal gratification in mind via a desire for power or control. |
Agorans are thoughtful taking time to build systems through criticism rather than break them down. They understand that as long as everyone believes they are on the same side of the table, progress is accomplishable.
Nonetheless, imperfectly delivered criticism is always better than silence. So speak up!
Contextualization
Workplaces are not like societies, the incentive of a workplace is usually to be productive above all else whereas justice and equality are critical to society. Workplaces optimize for efficiency whereas societies optimize for equality.
Speaking up in both is important, but in workplaces, dynamics are different:
- Legal reasons may prevent total the transparency found in societies. User data must be protected at all costs.
- Leadership might be focused on financial or legal issues, having a different overarching set of priorities at any given time, which are not the purview of people in the workplace.
This means that speaking up in a workplace sometimes leaves you without answers, that's just the reality of any workplace. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't speak up.