The Flashtag Communication Protocol
"The challenge is people will take [an opinion] and over-index on what was an opinion... Flashtags are an escalating set of the 'dying on the hill' spectrum." — Dharmesh Shah
What It Is
A system of explicit tags used in written communication (email, Slack) that clearly defines the expected weight of the feedback and the required response level.
When To Use
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Whenever a leader provides feedback to a subordinate
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In async communication channels (Slack, email)
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When there's a history of offhand comments becoming mandates
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To preserve team autonomy while still sharing opinions
The Four Flashtags
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ #fyi │ │ "I found this interesting." │ │ → No response expected. Go on with your life. │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ #suggestion │ │ "A thought I had." │ │ → You don't have to do it. Consider it. No reply. │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ #recommendation │ │ "I have researched this. I would do this." │ │ → If you don't do it, explain why (learning loop). │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ #plea │ │ "I beg of you. High conviction. Please do this." │ │ → Use EXTREMELY rarely (count on one hand). │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
How To Apply
STEP 1: Before Sending Feedback └── Ask: "How strongly do I feel about this?" └── Choose the appropriate tag
STEP 2: Add Tag to Message └── "#suggestion: Have you considered..." └── "#recommendation: Based on X, I'd do Y..."
STEP 3: Respect the System └── Don't follow up on #fyi or #suggestion └── Only expect response for #recommendation+
STEP 4: Track #plea Usage └── Should be extremely rare (1-2x per year) └── If overused, loses meaning
Common Mistakes
❌ Overusing #plea (turns into micromanagement)
❌ Following up aggressively on #suggestion (defeats purpose)
❌ Not using any tags (defaults to "founder megaphone")
Real-World Example
Dharmesh uses these daily at HubSpot to give product feedback without disempowering the specific product owners (DRIs).
Source: Dharmesh Shah, Lenny's Podcast