Why it matters
Pixar held a Notes Day after noticing newer employees were hesitant to share ideas. The studio stopped work for a day, employees chose the topics, and managers were kept out of sessions so feedback could be candid.
How to run it
- Ask employees for topics in advance — what’s getting in the way?
- Run small sessions on each topic, without managers, each with a facilitator.
- Capture specific proposals, not just complaints.
- Leaders respond publicly within weeks: what will change, what won’t, and why.
Watch out for
- Collecting notes and never acting on them — this destroys trust faster than not asking
Sources
- Ed Catmull, Creativity, Inc. (2014)