Why remote work makes disagreement hard—and how to do it anyway

At Zapier, a remote company, the CEO encourages disagreement as a way to improve decision-making and team performance. Disagreement can be scary, but it forces people to think harder, get better data, and prepare more thoroughly. However, written communication can feel formal and intimidating, making it difficult to voice opinions. Asynchronous feedback requires patience, which can be stressful. To make disagreement easier, the company uses a "safe word" (e.g., "pomegranate") to signal potential issues, disagree early, often, and in real-time, using video calls if necessary. Disagreement is not only productive but also good for mental health by building shared understanding and reducing tension.