The other day, SE Inc updated the FAQ with their post When will CMs or moderators remove the [featured] tag from actively featured meta questions?
Almost immediately leading to a community member asking: Is SE going to solely handle out edicts or actually engage with the community?.
Now let me quote one of the answers given to the user:
No, we are not handing down things and just expecting people to follow them - as Cody pointed out, this went through two rounds of feedback before making them final. It was actually a long, laborious process where we engaged with mods, compiled points, discussed them and reached a final version only after doing that twice.
So, why, why why, SE Inc, why didn't you say so initially?
I think we have been there more than once: when you make any kind of announcement on MSE or MSO, then please: include such crucial information as "we had two rounds of feedback with the mod team" in the announcement, or at least as a comment right there. It makes a huge difference whether something gets announced as a fait accompli, or went through two rounds of feedback with the moderator team.
Seriously: every time you first talk to the moderators, and then forget to mention that aspect, you create unnecessary churn.
It would be so much better for the relationship between community and company if users wouldn't have the constant feeling that we only get told things when we complain and push for it.
Or am I missing something here?