8y
Hi Anonymous Employee,
You levy some tough criticism on the company that warrants a thoughtful response. I can't argue with you that it has been a windy road as we have clarified our business and now work to build the right team. In a perfect world, where we are perfect leaders, it might have been a more linear journey and maybe no one would have chosen to, or been asked to, leave. Trying to change an entire industry is difficult, but no matter how difficult the process, we always treat our team with respect, even when we need to part ways.
Unlimited vacation and flexible hours aren't perks, they represent the kind of trust we have in the people at Architizer. Yes, people abuse the policies sometimes, but that is usually a symptom of a misalignment between the company's goals and the team member's goals. It seems we may have such a case here. I wish you had voiced your concerns in any one of the multiple forums we have made available—Weekly 1:1s, Bi-Weekly Town Halls, Bi-Annual Reviews, or just coming over for a talk—so that we could work through the issues you raise. No one here is averse to criticism, even tough criticism, as long as it is constructive so that we can, as you suggest, look in the mirror and find ways to improve.
Your review is super articulate, and you have clearly thought a lot about these issues. I encourage you to come discuss them with me. If you feel like you can't, or would prefer not to, then for your sake and the company's, you should be pursuing a position at a company that is more suitable. I encourage you to use your frustration to provoke the company better, or to make me a better leader.
Nothing we are doing is easy, and we will continue to make mistakes and the process will continue to be messy. The people who thrive at Architizer are willing to greet these challenges with patience, persistence, and a good sense of humor. That's how we are working to learn from the past to build a singularly focused company that will transform architecture.
It sucks that I learned about your criticism here, anonymously, but I'm glad you found a way to get it out. Now help me address it. Tell us why you couldn’t get it across internally, and what you think we should do to move forward.
Marc
