The CoinDesk Way

Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing in every action you take and in every decision you make, especially when no one’s looking. Truth first, no matter the consequences. If you make a mistake, own it and make it right. Act with integrity.

Prioritize a diverse workforce across all levels of the company. We will achieve better results when we consider multiple perspectives and are curious about others. Champion inclusion by trusting others to lead projects no matter their role or identity. Avoid biases in all practices. Have grace with your peers and work to consciously create a comfortable space that welcomes authenticity. Diversity and inclusion aren’t just words; they’re imperatives.

Be passionate and fully engaged. Make the most of each day by approaching every objective with energy, focus, purpose and enthusiasm. Demonstrate a bias for action and a sense of urgency to get objectives done. Start your own engine.

It’s about the team’s results. Don’t let your own ego or personal agenda get in the way of doing what’s best for the team. Be there for each other and demonstrate a willingness to step into another role or help a co-worker when that’s what’s required for success. Help each other succeed.

Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Be aware of their challenges and frustrations. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt that they share the same goals. Demonstrate empathy.

Listening is more than simply “not speaking.” Give others your undivided attention. Be present and engaged. Minimize the distractions and let go of the need to interrupt, agree or disagree. Suspend your judgment and be genuinely curious to know more, rather than jumping to conclusions. Above all, listen to understand first and respond second.

Speak honestly in a way that helps the team make progress. Say what you mean, ask questions, share ideas or raise issues that may cause conflict when it’s necessary for team success. Be courageous enough to say what needs to be said. Be direct (and kind and fair).

Put others at ease with your honesty and sincerity. Admit what you don’t know and willingly accept the help of others. Be courageous enough to show vulnerability around your colleagues and trust that you are valued and appreciated. Debate about objectives and results, not other people. Be kind and fair (and direct).

Relentlessly focus on finding a solution, rather than pointing fingers or dwelling on problems. Identify lessons learned and use those lessons to improve so that you don’t make the same mistake twice. Get smarter with every mistake. Learn from every experience. Throwing someone under the bus = off the bus.

Seek to understand the company’s vision, mission, strategy, industry, audience and objectives. Question what isn’t clear. Don’t accept anything at “face value” if it doesn’t make sense to you. Be curious, ask thoughtful questions and listen intently to the answers. Dig deeper to go beyond the expectations of your role. Learn something new every week.

Acknowledge your teammates for demonstrating progress and celebrate their successes. Regularly extend meaningful appreciation in all directions throughout CoinDesk. Recognize the wins.

Get to know each other on a more personal level. Understand what motivates others and what’s important to them. Strong relationships enable us to successfully work through difficult issues and challenging times and produce results. Talk more, Slack less.

Act towards others in a way that honors their worth and respects their value as unique individuals, regardless of their background, appearance or beliefs. Demonstrate kindness, compassion and patience. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Create clarity and avoid misunderstandings by discussing expectations upfront. Set and manage expectations for others and ask when you’re not clear on what they expect of you. Decision conversations should end with clarity about action items, responsibilities and due dates. Ideas conversations should end with clarity on what comes next. No meeting after the meeting.

While effort is important, we collectively expect results. Prioritize core objectives and weed out the noise. Set high goals, use measurements to track your progress and hold yourself accountable for consistently achieving those results. Adopt a mindset for achieving specific outcomes over output.

Take personal responsibility for making things happen. Respond to every situation by looking for how we can do it, rather than explaining why it can’t be done. Be resourceful and show initiative. Don’t make excuses or wait for others to solve problems. Resolve all issues. Roll up your sleeves, dive in and get things done.

Do what you say you’re going to do, when you say you’re going to do it. This includes being on time for appointments and meetings. If a commitment can’t be fulfilled, notify others early and agree on a new deliverable to be honored. Manage 100% of your commitments even if you can’t deliver 100% of all objectives.

Respond to questions and concerns quickly, whether it’s in person, on the phone or by slack. This includes simply acknowledging that you got the question and you’re “on it,” as well as keeping those involved continuously updated on the status of outstanding issues. Show your bias to action.

Get organized with your work for maximum efficiency. Have a game plan of deliverables for each week. Be intentional about aligning your schedule, your tasks and your workday to your objectives and key results. Strive for efficiency.

Demonstrate a passion for excellence and take pride in the quality of everything you touch and everything you do. Don’t accept mediocrity in your results. Demonstrate enough self-awareness to ask yourself, “Is this my best work?” Aim high and strive for excellence.

Missing just one detail can have an enormous impact on the end result. Be a fanatic about accuracy and precision. Double-check your work. Get the details right before declaring your work done. If you take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves.

Ask for feedback. Regularly reevaluate your work to find ways to improve. Don’t be satisfied with the status quo. “Because we’ve always done it that way” is not a reason. Guard against complacency. Consider new ways to get things done faster and with better results. Innovate.

What got us here is not the same as what will get us to the next level. Get outside your comfort zone and be flexible, rather than hanging on to old ways of doing things. Embrace the new possibilities that change and growth bring. Demonstrate grit and resilience.

We’re all responsible for, and benefit from, the CoinDesk image and reputation. Consider how your actions affect our collective reputation. Demonstrate behaviors that would make you and the company proud. Be a world class professional.

While our passion for excellence is real, remember that the world has bigger problems than the daily challenges that make up our work. Stuff happens. Keep perspective. Don’t take things personally or take yourself too seriously. Enjoy what you do.