Difference between revisions of "Tao of Linden"

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== Company Principles ==
== Company Principles ==


''' Work together! '''
'''Work Together.'''


The problems we face in creating Second Life are usually larger than one person can solve, and solving them together is one of the great strengths we have as a company.  We will succeed only if we collaborate with each other extensively and well. This means helping others reach their goals, asking for help and input often, and being easy to work with.  Create teams as necessary to solve specific problems, and support your teammates.  Remember that being open and honest is essential, but is only the threshold requirement - great collaborative work requires intuitive compassion and support.  
We are engaged in a wildly ambitious and complex endeavor.  We need to take on risk and accept the occasional failure. But we dream, stumble and win only together.   This requires a level of creative collaboration you won’t find in many companies. You must not only respect but actively seek out differing views, and then find closure after dissent to move forward together.  When you look back, do so to find ways to improve rather than to blame.


'''Walk in our Residents’ shoes.'''


''' Your Choice is Your Responsibility '''  
We are blessed by some of the most informed, passionate, committed customers imaginable. They are our reason for being, they are our world, and we call them Residents.  They are an insuperable source of advantage and an awesome responsibility.  In every choice you make, consider how your choice will impact their experience.


There's a dual meaning here.
'''Good People Make Good Choices . . . ''and vice versa''.'''


Most companies tell you what to do.  Then they make you accountable to the person who told you what to do, not to yourself.  We don't think this gets the best long-term results with a truly ambitious project like Second Life.  At Linden Lab, you are expected to choose your own work, you have to decide how you can best move the company forward.  This isn't always easy, but it can be very rewarding for you and it is a huge win for the company.  ''This doesn't mean that you can't ask someone else what to do'' - it means that you are responsible for choosing who to listen to!  You are responsible for listening well and broadly enough to choose wisely.
There’s love in the spirit of our mission, the enjoyment we take in each others’ company, the style and humor we have at our best.  We’re here because we’re open to all the wonders of the world and the goodness in each other; even the cynics among us harbor the begrudging belief that all things are possible.  This is a place where you can be you, and we ask you to make the choices that enable your colleagues to bring out the best in themselves.


And once you have chosen, you are responsible for executing well to making your choices work.  You must understand that other people now rely on you for single-minded execution, and it is time to shut out the noise and work without distraction.  Sometimes you will fail, and in those cases it is very important to fail fast and fail publicly - that is how we learn and iterate and ultimately win.
'''Be thoughtful and transparent.'''


We build trust through transparent and open communication.  Be prolific in your communication but thoughtful, and remember that context is key.  Report on your progress regularly and in language that benefits the widest possible range of your colleagues.  You are responsible for ensuring that your messages reach your intended audience - make sure your signal does not become noise.


''' Be Transparent and Open '''
'''No Politics.'''


There are many ways to emphasize responsibility, accountability, communication and trust.  We believe that the one key principle that best supports all of these values is transparency.  As much as possible, tell everyone what you are doing, all the time.  This transparency makes us responsible to our peers, makes us accountable to our own statements, and replaces the need for management with individual responsibility.  Over time, it creates and reinforces trust.  Be willing to share ideas before you feel they are ‘baked’.  Report on your own progress frequently and to everyone.
Sharing our mission requires that you honor this rule at all times:  Never act to advance your own interests or someone else’s interests at the expense of the interests of the company.
 
 
''' Make Weekly Progress ''' 
 
We believe that every person should make specific, visible individual contributions that moves the company forward every week.  Projects must be broken down into measurable tasks so that making weekly progress is possible.  This is a principle that almost no one believes is true when they first hear it,  yet everyone who keeps to this principle over the course of several months is stunned by the amount of progress made during that time.  Set weekly goals and report progress to everyone.  Regardless how big what you are working on may be, you can always break it down this way.  Give it a try.
 
 
''' No Politics! ''' 
 
Never act to advance your own interests or someone else's interests at the expense of the interests of the company.  This is the one principle, outside of violations of law, for which violation will likely result in immediate termination.
 
 
''' Might Makes Right ''' 
 
Just kidding – wanted to make sure you’re still paying attention.  Lots of things could be said here: Have a sense of humor.  Have a sense of humility.  Have fun.  Call out inconsistency in principles when you see it.  Don’t let a staid form and function become routine and boilerplate.  Which leads to our last principle . . .
 
 
''' Do It With Style ''' 
 
It’s not enough that we are changing the world.  It’s not enough that Second Life is incredibly complex and our vision is vast and shifting.  We’re not just going to succeed, we’re going to do it with style.  As with life, the journey matters as much as the destination.  That means a lot of different things, and a lot of what it means can’t be captured in words alone.  Find out by talking to your colleagues, by living the principles above, and by exploring Second Life.

Revision as of 16:03, 12 December 2008

Vision and Mission

To connect us all to an online world that improves the human condition.

Company Principles

Work Together.

We are engaged in a wildly ambitious and complex endeavor. We need to take on risk and accept the occasional failure. But we dream, stumble and win only together. This requires a level of creative collaboration you won’t find in many companies. You must not only respect but actively seek out differing views, and then find closure after dissent to move forward together. When you look back, do so to find ways to improve rather than to blame.

Walk in our Residents’ shoes.

We are blessed by some of the most informed, passionate, committed customers imaginable. They are our reason for being, they are our world, and we call them Residents. They are an insuperable source of advantage and an awesome responsibility. In every choice you make, consider how your choice will impact their experience.

Good People Make Good Choices . . . and vice versa.

There’s love in the spirit of our mission, the enjoyment we take in each others’ company, the style and humor we have at our best. We’re here because we’re open to all the wonders of the world and the goodness in each other; even the cynics among us harbor the begrudging belief that all things are possible. This is a place where you can be you, and we ask you to make the choices that enable your colleagues to bring out the best in themselves.

Be thoughtful and transparent.

We build trust through transparent and open communication. Be prolific in your communication but thoughtful, and remember that context is key. Report on your progress regularly and in language that benefits the widest possible range of your colleagues. You are responsible for ensuring that your messages reach your intended audience - make sure your signal does not become noise.

No Politics.

Sharing our mission requires that you honor this rule at all times: Never act to advance your own interests or someone else’s interests at the expense of the interests of the company.

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