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In supporting Jason against Brian Armstrong's recent mission announcement, I'd like to add my own perspective.
At 0x, I contributed a pledge to psychological safety in jointly developing our Mission and Values statement with leadership. https://twitter.com/jasonsomensatto/status/1310758436980875264
At 0x, I contributed a pledge to psychological safety in jointly developing our Mission and Values statement with leadership. https://twitter.com/jasonsomensatto/status/1310758436980875264
As a team, we intentionally took a stance on this, directly alongside the relevant values of "doing the right thing" and "thinking long-term." https://link.0x.org/mission
What's "psychological safety" actually mean?
Google's Project Aristotle was, in large part, what inspired me to commit this to our development. Anyone in tech should read this seminal NYT piece about its findings. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/magazine/what-google-learned-from-its-quest-to-build-the-perfect-team.html
Dr. Brené Brown's research on vulnerability is highly relevant and deeply inspiring, too. (Frankly, all of her stuff is incredible.) https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability/transcript?language=en
TL;DR on the research above:
Rigorous studies show that psychological safety is what underpins the most performant teams. Also, vulnerability often leads to greatness.
Rigorous studies show that psychological safety is what underpins the most performant teams. Also, vulnerability often leads to greatness.
Emotions and humans are going to be the most nuanced variables in any equation; you can't just healthily tame them with something like this. Expression is complex, important, and to be celebrated. This decision presents risk in stifling innovation, communication, and culture.
Moreover, it feels a dangerous precedent to set with the amount of high-power, privileged, prestigious folks I've seen publicly backing this position.
This stands in opposition to how we should be using our privilege to make an impact. We should be optimizing for human well-being and connection, even from a business practicality perspective, in my opinion.
Personally, I don't know where I'd be if I couldn't talk to my team about things that are important to me, like my mental health or strong beliefs.
This is very much the same thing.
This is very much the same thing.
People should not have to fear to be themselves. Political beliefs, activism for causes one cares about (especially now! COVID, climate, Trump & his saying he maybe ain't gonna go, racial inequity spotlighted, etc.) — these things are raging in people and core to who they are.
They're also core to one's continued growth as an individual human _and_ our collective growth as a global society. https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1308902276187262978
Chris Burniske points out in an excellent thread, too, that this position is pretty against the spirit of decentralization: https://twitter.com/cburniske/status/1310419201815752704
Holding space for these restricted views absolutely contributes diversity to your product and business development, too.
Additionally, I don't know that it's fair to say "our hiring practices are fair/diverse," but basically, please don't apply if you don't follow our ideology.
Additionally, I don't know that it's fair to say "our hiring practices are fair/diverse," but basically, please don't apply if you don't follow our ideology.
It doesn't mean there isn't a time and a place to talk about things like politics, or that enough can't become enough. Create and control a forum for it. If someone is problematic, manage them.
But, IMO, one should build a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and authenticity — not one of fear where you can't bring your diverse self. I, personally, won't invest myself in anything less; I'm more whole than that as a person and won't disrespect/limit myself in that way.
♫ What the worrrrld, needs now... is love, sweet love. ♫
... Seriously, though. It's true. This is a paramount time in our history to ACTUALLY unite, not to divide and exclude. What it means to "unite" is powerful, and semantics matter.
... Seriously, though. It's true. This is a paramount time in our history to ACTUALLY unite, not to divide and exclude. What it means to "unite" is powerful, and semantics matter.
These views are mine, not those of my employer. If you share my stance and would like to work toward the above ideals, feel free to shoot me a DM. I don't think Brian had ill-will, but for whatever reason and with respect, I do think that he made a misguided decision here.
I continue to admire what Coinbase has done for this industry, and I'm curious to see how it's going to unfold for them moving forward.
