The culture at Valve is pretty much crowdsourced. The handbook is a wiki. One of the first things we say to new hires is, 'You have to change something in the handbook.'
Interpretation
At Valve, employees are encouraged to actively contribute to and improve company culture rather than following an established set of rules.
Gabe Newell emphasizes the unique culture at Valve, where the organizational handbook is dynamic and collaborative, reflecting the input and ideas of all employees. This approach empowers new hires from the outset to take initiative in shaping the company's practices and policies, fostering a sense of ownership and adaptability within the workplace.
In practice
During a team-building workshop, a speaker might use this quote to stress the importance of contributing to workplace culture.
We may well be the ones Proverbs warns when it reminds us: "Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks the truth." The point is clear: If the people speak and the king doesn't listen, there is something wrong with the king. If the king acts precipitously and the people say nothing, something is wrong with the people.
A president has an inescapable responsibility to provide direction: What are we trying to achieve? What are we trying to prevent? Why? To do that, he has to both analyze and reflect.
Loyalty is very important when things get a little tough, as they often do when the challenge is great. Loyalty is a powerful force in producing one's individual best and more so in producing a team's best.
The three most important ways to lead people are:... by example... by example... by example.
The people who are doing the work are the moving force behind the Macintosh. My job is to create a space for them, to clear out the rest of the organization and keep it at bay.
Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated
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