- Aim to assist. Feedback must be given with positive intent. Providing feedback to get the frustration off your chest, intentionally hurting the other person, or furthering your political agenda is not tolerated.
- Actionable. Your feedback must focus on what the recipient can do differently.
- Appreciate. Natural human inclination is to provide a defence or excuse when receiving criticism; we all reflexively seek to protect our egos and reputation. When you receive feedback, you need to fight this natural reaction and instead ask yourself, "How can I show appreciation for this feedback by listening carefully, considering the message with an open mind, and becoming neither defensive nor angry?"
- Accept or discard. Netflix expects you to listen to feedback, but it is entirely up to you to decide if you want to take it into account and follow the advice.
Netflix is also famous for approaching inevitable personnel cuts - fast but generously in line with its unusual transparency. Its slogan
'Adequate Performance Gets a Generous Severance Package' is well known. Managers are expected to use the
'Keeper test' asking themselves, 'If a certain employee leaves tomorrow would I fight to keep him at all cost?'. If the answer is No, the manager should start looking for a replacement now.