Only if you’re in a stupid ego-based culture.
If you actually want to get shit done, you need to be able to criticize ideas regardless of whether you have a better idea.
this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2023
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I don't have to be professional chef to know that the food is bad.
"Food is bad" tells nothing to the chef though, who is now wondering if your tastes are just different, or if there's something that should be changed. Seasoning? Over- or undercooked? Meat tastes rotten? There's a fly in your soup? You should at least be able to say something a bit more actionable.
“Food is bad”, doesn’t help us get better food, it just brings out the unpleasantness. “Pay more for better ingredients”, or “hire a new chef”, states the problem in a way that gives us a potential solution, or something specific to argue about (budget)
Generally, no, but context and approach matter.
The ability to notice a flaw isn't the same as the skill, experience, and background that might be necessary to design a useful solution for a particular issue, especially complex issues. It's generally reasonable to say, "I don't know of a better solution, but I can predict that x and y problems will likely result from your proposed solution."
It's especially valid to warn someone when their proposed solution will harm people or make things worse. You don't have to have a better solution to try to prevent someone from doing something ill-conceived or hasty or reckless.
If the stakes are low or the person proposing a solution is likely to be sensitive to criticism, it might work better to try to approach your response as an attempt to help them refine their solution, rather than just opposing it outright. Be considerate of their feelings and make it clear you're working together.
I don't think you need a solution to point out a flaw; though I can't think of any examples where one would notice a flaw without having some kind of input on how to get around said flaw.
examples where one would notice a flaw without having some kind of input on how to get around said flaw
Middle East
Depends on the situation, but IMHO you need to at least be willing to accept some responsibility in improving it, and it should affect how you deliver the criticism. (Even more kindly than usual.)
If you're in a position to criticise a finished solution proposal, you're probably part of the team and could have offered your input earlier, when it was potentially even requested. Maybe they knowingly took a shortcut to be able to move on to the other tasks and meet deadlines. Maybe they took on the task outside their core skillset because someone else dropped the ball. Maybe they have banged their head against it for days and simply cannot find a solution that works on all levels, already frustrated. Is there a superior or colleague they could have asked for assistance? Are you the superior?
you need to at least be able to explain what is wrong. a "this is bad" criticism is just frustrating
I don't need to know how to repair a helicopter, to know I'm not going to get on one that has a broken rotor.
So no, you don't need expertise or a solution to be able to identify obvious flaws.
In your instance, the obvious solution is to repair it first.
How is that connected to this discussion?
I think it's fine as long as you can explain what the issue is. I have meetings regularly where we are working out processes for how to handle different situations or improve on existing ones we've identified issues with. Sometimes someone will suggest something and someone else will see a gap in it and have to bring up "okay but what about if this happens" we may or may not have a solution on the spot but it identifies an issue that needs to be resolved.
On the other hand I have people who will come to me with shit like "x isn't working" which isn't helpful in resolving the problem at all. You have to be constructive about it. ex- "when I do in x, y happens"
Depends how invested you are in the mission. If you're actively participating helping achieve a shared goal, constructive feedback is helpful.
If something's working, but suboptimally, you can provide feedback, but don't argue with people about architecture if it's working for them.
If you want to generally be polite to your friends, or people around you, don't they say what they're doing, try to find a way to improve whatever they're doing and show a solution, or show willing to help. If you're invested people love cooperation. But if you find yourself constantly giving negative feedback to those around you, you may want to stop. It might be affecting your personal relationships.
No. I hate this mindset so much. People can protest without having a solution. If you do not want to iterate on or reconsider the status quo because someone "also doesn't have a better solution hurrdurr" you've mentally never left kindergarten.
You shouldn't, and many demanding it are saying "bring me solutions not problems" to say "stfu and stop complaining" more politely. Let them faceplant.