“That doesn’t work”

📰 Seth Godin's Blog

Learn to distinguish between 'it doesn't work' and 'it doesn't work for me' to improve feedback and communication

intermediate Published 31 Jul 2026
Action Steps
  1. Identify situations where 'it doesn't work' is used as feedback
  2. Distinguish between objective and subjective feedback
  3. Ask clarifying questions to understand the critic's perspective
  4. Consider the audience and context when evaluating feedback
  5. Apply this nuance to your own feedback and communication style
Who Needs to Know This

Product managers, designers, and marketers can benefit from understanding this nuance to create more effective products and services

Key Insight

💡 Recognizing the difference between objective and subjective feedback can help you create more effective products and services

Share This
💡 'It doesn't work' vs 'it doesn't work for me': a subtle but crucial distinction in feedback and communication

Key Takeaways

Learn to distinguish between 'it doesn't work' and 'it doesn't work for me' to improve feedback and communication

Full Article

We transferred an idea from engineering to culture, but it’s incomplete. If you build a watch that doesn’t tell time, it’s fair to say it doesn’t work. But when a critic says, “that joke didn’t work,” after seeing a comic perform to a raucous audience, what they probably mean is, “that didn’t work for me.” […]
Read full article → ← Back to Reads

Related Videos

Your Product Fails Because of This One Decision
Your Product Fails Because of This One Decision
Technocratic Podcast
AI Made Engineering Faster. Now Product Is the Problem | Technocratic Podcast
AI Made Engineering Faster. Now Product Is the Problem | Technocratic Podcast
Technocratic Podcast
Product Teams Getting Decimated by AI
Product Teams Getting Decimated by AI
Technocratic Podcast
Your Team Has the Tools—Just Not Using Them #software #fail
Your Team Has the Tools—Just Not Using Them #software #fail
Technocratic Podcast
Product evolution: smaller teams, bigger impact with AI #productdev #innovation
Product evolution: smaller teams, bigger impact with AI #productdev #innovation
Technocratic Podcast
Your Board Doesn't Understand AI ROI
Your Board Doesn't Understand AI ROI
Technocratic Podcast