Tweet by cjc

December 18, 2025

Someone asked me what good backchanneling looks like. When @zoink interviewed me, he said: "I’ve talked to people you've worked with and heard you're intense." That opened up a real conversation about what they likely meant, when that intensity shows up, and how I think about it myself. Another example: when I was far along in the process to join Linear, @karrisaarinen backchanneled me with the Stripe founders. Not to replace his judgment, but to check whether his read on me matched theirs. That’s the difference. Backchannels should sharpen your view, not make the decision for you.

Author
cjc
Date
December 18, 2025