Template
Values Deck
Turn company values from posters into operating guidance by showing what each value looks like in practice: too little, right amount, and too much.
Use this when values are vague, inconsistently interpreted, or weaponised. A Values Deck helps people apply values with judgement instead of swinging between underplaying and over-indexing.
Why this works
- Gives values behavioural clarity teams can actually use day to day.
- Prevents values from becoming slogans with no consequences.
- Reduces conflict caused by different interpretations of the same value.
- Creates shared language for hiring, feedback and performance reviews.
Build each value card
| Section | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Value | What is the value and why does it matter here? |
| Live it | What 3-5 concrete behaviours show this value in daily work? |
| Right amount | What does healthy application look like in normal decisions? |
| Too much | How does over-indexing on this value hurt execution or culture? |
| Too little | What warning signs show this value is missing? |
Worked example: Live the revolution
Value statement: Blockchain is going to change the world. We are here to build in that future, not watch from the sidelines.
Live it
- Stay close to the frontier through credible research, product trends and technical developments.
- Participate in the ecosystem by joining meetups, conversations and practitioner communities.
- Bring ideas back to the company and ask where they create real customer value.
Right amount
- Get excited about blockchain technology and keep your understanding current.
- Go to meetups and talk with people building in the space.
- Read up regularly on major developments and emerging patterns.
- Think critically about where blockchain does and does not make sense for the business.
Too much
- Trying to shoehorn every new blockchain solution into the company regardless of user need.
- Chasing novelty at the expense of focus, reliability or economics.
Too little
- Showing little interest in the space and missing major developments.
- Treating the value as branding language rather than a lived standard.
A good Values Deck does not reward extremism. It teaches range: enough to create edge, not so much that it creates chaos.
Facilitation cadence
Draft with leadership
Create one page per core value with concrete behavioural language and real examples.
Pressure-test with team leads
Check whether examples feel practical and whether they help with real trade-off decisions.
Use in operating moments
Reference value cards in hiring debriefs, performance conversations, retros and all-hands storytelling.
Refresh quarterly
Update examples as the company stage changes so the value stays alive and relevant.
Source / credit
Outstride original
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