What should the 15th Amazon leadership principle be?

This is a real question you may get in your Amazon interview.

I honestly have no idea what a good answer to this question is but here are some ideas I’ve heard from my clients. Maybe you can tell me what a good answer is and I can write a better post…

Patience and tolerance for customers

I think this is actually covered by the Customer Obsession principle so I wouldn’t use this one. 

Empathy

“In designing products or experiences, it is important to take into account how customers’ needs will be emotionally impacted. Through Customer Journey Mapping, a product manager can analyze the customers’ feeling through the experience.”

Diversity

“This is something I would like to see as the 15th principle. Diversity brings thoughts and ideas from people with various backgrounds, experiences and upbringing. Diverse ideas help build innovative products for different demographics and target audiences across the globe. It is very important for an organization the size of Amazon as it serves customers in close to 180 countries,to make diversity a first class citizen by recognizing it as one of its core Leadership Principles.”

Feedback

“In my opinion it is one of most important and overlooked processes. Especially, when you are in an environment when it demands to learn fast from your mistakes and giving and receiving feedback should be part of work life. I strongly believe that one of the ways to build trust between your teammates is through a constant feedback, and you can get it when you invest time in developing those professional relationships.”

Vulnerability

“Leaders need to show vulnerability and empathy. The other LPs drive the company forward but also you need this.”

This is an idea about the power of vulnerability, made popular by Brene Brown.

Humility

“Remember where you came from.”

Go high deep wide

“Get buy in from everyone in the organization.”

 Think about the future

“The other 14 already cover everything else.”

Actually I feel like this one is already covered. Isn’t part of all of the 14 thinking about the future, otherwise known as planning?

This is an idea from the work of Angela Duckworth about the power of passion and perseverance.

Employee obsession

Hmm, ouch. Probably not what I would recommend saying to a company that focuses so much time on union busting. Maybe best to ignore how the company treats employees if you really want to work there.

Work-life integration

Again, not really the company you want to nag about this. If you care about your work-life balance, don’t go looking for it at Amazon.

Greater good

Think of the impact we can have on the environment.