Critique, Don't Criticize!

NYC Guggenheim Museum’s Oculus ℅ Guggenheim Foundation

In my first year of college, I took an upper level course on Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, filled with philosophy majors. I was totally over my head. But, I still love Critique! Usually relegated to the design world, it is a technique we should be using in business (and life!). In business, we usually criticize…and personalize.  Maybe we can adopt a Critique process in business ~ giving an opinion about the ‘thing’ done, how it was done without criticizing the person who did it.

An approach I’ve used for critique separates the HOW (process) from the WHAT (project) first and then assess how they inform each other:

1. In HOW, we assess the methodology used, steps taken, and lessons learned along the way in each step, each iteration.  We discuss things like other possible HOWs and any other potential research. 

2. In WHAT, we assess the “deliverable” itself ~ the project, concept, model, prototype.  We discuss the context and framework in which the deliverable lives, ways to describe the deliverable, and/or other potential deliverables (variations on a theme or totally different ones).

Jackson Pollock, Number 5, 1948

Even though the HOW and WHAT are intertwined, critiquing them separately, understanding the inter-dependencies, usually leads to new insights, new approaches and new, better solutions.   

In a critique, the Critiquer and Critiqueé are both responsible for success.  It’s best if the Critiqueé clearly communicates their ‘design’ philosophy, adapts their communication style to the critiquer’s style, and isn’t defensive but open to feedback, understanding and assessing if, how, and what to adapt and adopt.  The Critiquer should have a helpful, refining attitude; this isn’t to boost their own ego! They start with positive comments, ask thoughtful questions to understand, and provide clear, actionable feedback tied to the ultimate user/customer.*

Of course there is a ton more to learn critiques, but this is a start.  Think about how and when you can try this in your organization…and see what kind of difference it can make!

*Many thanks to Michael Donohue for sharing his lecture on Critique in our newly created Intro to Engineering class, ENGN 32, at Brown.

3 Key Questions #LifebyDesign

There's tons of questions we can ask ourselves to assess our lives, careers, goals, etc.  Studies have been done and courses taught on scientifically proven methods to do this assessment.  For me, questions should get us to think, to dig deeper and to look at possibilities - not to lead to quick, "do this and you'll be happy" answers.  So here are the 3 questions I ask to start a Life by Design.

“What do you like/love to do and are good/great at doing?”

Make a list! These can be hobbies, skills, work, stuff you like learning or doing, anything - don't restrict yourself, take a holistic approach of you - personal, professional, academic, etc. And, if you want, try prioritizing them.  You want to do a lot of these things in your life.

“What DON’T you like/love to do and are good/great at doing?”

Make another list.  Same guidelines as above -  hobbies, skills, work, learning, etc. and try to prioritize them.  The goal is to minimize these - maybe you can even eliminate doing some of them, but we all have to do things we don't like so at least do less of them.

“What do you want to learn, explore, discover, experience in the next 2, 3 or 5 years?”

A few years ago, one of my students asked me to help her lay out her 10 year plan.  I told her to write it down, put it in a drawer and then we'd talk about the next 2-5 years. Our world is changing too fast to plan what we will or want to do 10 years out, but we can plan, to a degree, who we want to be, what we will stand for, and what we won't stand for. 

Think about the next 2-3 years, maybe 5. What do you want to learn, explore, discover, and/or experience? Learn how to code, make bookshelves, do graphic design, become a product manager for 3D-printed products, understand the Patagonian ecosystem, discover biomedical uses of Antarctic sea anemones, para-sail?  Here's mine ->

Start thinking about the steps you can take to start! What does it entail? Who do you know who can help or inform you? What 1 or 2 small things can you do tomorrow to start? Go for it!

10 Timeless Thoughts on Work & Life

Though she's only 20, Samanee Mahbub's insights into her 10 weeks in NYC are important for all of us at any age.  How many of these thoughts do you identify with? They are timeless, universal and very human.  Please read and reflect.

"On New York, and on life

After ten weeks in this city, I have a lot to reflect and think about on my last day before I embark on my next journey. This post has no clear theme other than what’s been going on my head. Thoughts about New York, about being lost, about feeling useless, about feeling useful, about adventures, about learning, about healing, about loving, about everything and about nothing. Hope you enjoy the thought ramble :) ...."

“Who actually told us that feeling lost is bad, and that we actually have to have everything figured out?”

“Live your life with as much enthusiasm so other people can benefit from it.”