Amazon Leadership Principles

Question 1

Customer obsession

Answer 1

• start with the customer and work backwards from there
• constantly work to gain and maintain the trust of the customer
• leaders keep an eye on competitors but the cutomer always remains in focus

Question 2

Ownership

Answer 2

• leaders are the owners of the company
• think long term and do not sacrifice long term value for short term results
• act on behalf of the entire company , beyond their own team
• never say ‘that’s not my job’

Question 3

Invent and simplify

Answer 3

• leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify
• externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, not limited by “not invented here”
• as we do new things we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time

Question 4

are right a lot

Answer 4

• leaders are right a lot
• strong judgment and good instincts
• seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs

Question 5

learn and be curious

Answer 5

• never done learning
• always seek to improve themselves
• curious about new possibilities and act to explore them

Question 6

hire and develop the best

Answer 6

• raise performance bar with every hire and promotion
• recognize exceptional talent
• develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others

Question 7

insists on the highest standards

Answer 7

• have relentlessly high standards
• continually raising the bar and drive their teams to deliver high quality
• ensure defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so that they stay fixed

Question 8

think big

Answer 8

• create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results
• think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers

Question 9

Bias for action

Answer 9

• speed matters
• many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study
• calculated risk taking is valued

Question 10

frugality

Answer 10

accomplish more with less
- constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention
- no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expenxe

Question 11

earn trust

Answer 11

• leaders listen attentively, speak candidly and treat others respectfully
• vocally self critical even if doing so is awkward or embarrassing
• benchmark themselves and their teams against the best

Question 12

dive deep

Answer 12

• operate at all levels
• stay connected to the details
• audit frequently
• skeptical when metrics and anecdote differ
• no task is beneath them

Question 13

have backbone, disagree and commit

Answer 13

• obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree even when doing so is uncomfortable and exhausting
• do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion, once a commission is determined they commit wholly

Question 14

deliver results

Answer 14

• focus on the key inputs and deliver them with the right quality and a timely fashion
• always rise to the occasion and never settle

Question 15

strive to be earth’s best employer

Answer 15

Leaders create a safe, productive, efficient, inclusive and equitable work environment. Every day. You lead with empathy, enjoy your work and make it easy for others to enjoy it too. You ask yourself: Are my colleagues growing with their tasks? Do they have everything they need to develop? Are you ready for the next step? Leaders develop a vision for the success of employees and support them so that they have prospects for a successful future - at Amazon and beyond.

Question 16

Success and greatness come with responsibility

Answer 16

It all started in a garage, but a lot has changed since then. We have grown up, become more important for many people, and are far from perfect. We act modestly and carefully, also with regard to the indirect consequences of our decisions. We want to make a difference every day – for the communities in which we operate, for our planet and for future generations. We start every day with the determination to be better for our customers, employees, partners and the world at large. And every evening we remind ourselves that we can do even more tomorrow. Leaders give more than they take and always leave things better than they found them.