How approvals work
Approvals ensure quality outcomes are verified before bonus points are awarded. Here's the complete flow:
The approval process
Step 1: Real-world outcome happens After you submit a contribution, something happens in the real world:
- Your intro leads to a meeting
- Your referral gets interviewed
- Your post reaches 3k impressions
Step 2: Someone requests approval
Two paths exist:
Path A - You request approval: 1. Open your contribution record (Dashboard → Contribution History) 2. Click "Request Outcome Approval" for the relevant step (e.g., "Meeting Booked") 3. Add context: meeting date, attendees, notes from conversation 4. Submit → Approval request sent to reviewer
Path B - Reviewer initiates: 1. Reviewer validates outcome independently (checks CRM, ATS, analytics) 2. Reviewer clicks "Approve [Outcome]" directly from their queue 3. Approval automatically granted—no request needed
Step 3: Reviewer takes action
The assigned reviewer receives notification (email + in-app) and sees:
- Contribution details (who submitted, what type, when)
- Outcome step label ("Meeting Booked", "Candidate Hired", etc.)
- Context provided by requester
- Points to be awarded (e.g., +80)
Reviewer has three options:
Reviewer Actions
1. Approve ✅
- Approval status changes to 'approved'
- Outcome points awarded automatically via database trigger
- You receive notification: "Your outcome was approved! You earned 80 points."
- Points appear in your balance immediately
Auto-approval of intermediate steps: If you request approval for Outcome #3 but haven't gotten #1 and #2 approved, the system automatically approves all prior steps to avoid gaps.
2. Request More Info 💬
- Approval status changes to 'need_more_info'
- Reviewer adds note explaining what's missing (e.g., "Please provide meeting date and attendees")
- You receive notification with feedback
- No points awarded yet
3. Need More Info Response Flow When reviewer requests more info: 1. You see admin feedback in your contribution timeline 2. Click "Resubmit" button 3. Modal shows original feedback + space for additional context 4. Submit with more details 5. New approval request created (status resets to 'pending') 6. Reviewer sees your additional context and re-evaluates
Approval States
Contributions move through these states:
pending: Awaiting reviewer decision approved: Outcome verified, points awarded need_more_info: Reviewer needs clarification (can resubmit)
Multiple outcomes per contribution
A single contribution can have multiple outcome approvals:
Example: Talent Referral
- Submit referral → +5 points (instant, automatic)
- Passes screening → +30 points (requires approval)
- Candidate hired → +100 points (requires approval)
Total: 135 points across three steps
Each outcome is a separate approval request. Track all steps in your contribution detail view.
Who can approve?
Each Assist has an assigned reviewer:
- Configured by admin when creating the Assist
- Typically someone who can verify outcomes (sales manager for intros, hiring manager for referrals, etc.)
- If no reviewer assigned, defaults to workspace admins
See Roles & permissions for details.
Tracking approval status
Dashboard → Contribution History:
- Click any contribution to see timeline
- View all approval requests and their statuses
- See points earned at each step
- Read reviewer feedback if more info was requested
Notifications:
- Approval requested → Reviewer notified
- Approved → You notified
- Need more info → You notified with feedback
Tips for faster approvals
- Provide context upfront (dates, names, outcomes)
- Include evidence (CRM screenshots, calendar invites, engagement metrics)
- Respond quickly to "need more info" requests
- Build relationship with your reviewer—they're your advocate
FAQs
Can I request approval before outcome happens? No—wait for real-world results. Reviewers verify actual outcomes, not plans.
What if reviewer doesn't respond? Approvals stay 'pending' indefinitely. If stuck for >7 days, message reviewer directly or contact workspace admin.
Can admins approve on behalf of reviewers? Yes—admins have approval permissions for all Assists.
Are instant points ever revoked? No—instant points are permanent, even if outcome approval is denied.
