How positive criticism helps Pixar create blockbuster films
Teams that utilise conflict in their decision making processes consistently outperform those that focus on cohesion. That’s because when ideas are still being developed or decisions still being considered, criticism and conflict are vital to testing the value of ideas and helping increase that value.
Pixar is one company that has embraced the value of criticism in their bid to produce blockbuster films. To keep the benefits of criticism without the negativity, Pixar uses an idea called ‘plussing’, where any comment made about someone’s work must contain a way to improve or build on it.
Plussing has two key underlying principles: 1. Say yes to everything, and 2. Make your partner look good. So, when a Pixar employee receives an idea from their team member they don’t judge it, they say: “Here’s my starting point. What can I do with this? How do I accept the offer and make my partner look good?”
Pixar’s Randy Nelson explains this in greater detail in the following short video.
How would you cultivate positive criticism within your own team?
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