Amazon’s Leadership Principles
We use our Leadership Principles every day, whether we’re discussing ideas for new projects or deciding on the best approach to solving a problem. It is just one of the things that makes Amazon peculiar.
| Leadership Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Customer Obsession | Leaders embody a sense of ownership, thinking in the long term and acting in the best interest of the entire company, transcending their roles. |
| Ownership | Leaders prioritize customers, working diligently to gain and retain their trust. While they know competitors, their primary focus is on satisfying customers. |
| Invent and Simplify | Leaders foster innovation and simplicity within their teams, welcoming ideas from all sources and not being confined by origin. They are open to being misunderstood in the pursuit of innovation. |
| Are Right, A Lot | Leaders exhibit strong judgment and instincts, often making the right decisions. They actively seek diverse perspectives and work to challenge their own beliefs. |
| Learn and Be Curious | Leaders are perpetual learners, always seeking to improve themselves and explore new possibilities. |
| Hire and Develop the Best | Leaders aim to elevate performance standards with each recruitment and promotion, identifying exceptional talent and facilitating their growth within the organization. They are committed to developing leaders and take their coaching responsibilities seriously. |
| Insist on the Highest Standards | Leaders maintain incredibly high standards, often perceived as unreasonably high by others. They continuously raise the bar, driving their teams to deliver high-quality outputs and resolving issues permanently. |
| Think Big | Leaders embody a sense of ownership, thinking in the long term and acting in the best interest of the entire company, transcending their individual roles. |
| Bias for Action | Leaders understand the importance of speed in business, valuing calculated risk-taking and avoiding unnecessary delays in decision-making. |
| Frugality | Leaders build trust by listening attentively, communicating candidly, and treating others with respect. They are willing to be self-critical and maintain high personal and team conduct standards, benchmarking against the best in the industry. |
| Earn Trust | Leaders encourage expansive thinking, setting bold directions that inspire results. They think unconventionally and proactively seek opportunities to serve customers better. |
| Dive Deep | Leaders are hands-on, staying connected to the details and frequently auditing processes. They are skeptical of discrepancies between metrics and anecdotes and are willing to undertake any task necessary. |
| Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit | Leaders strive to achieve more with less, fostering a culture of resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and innovation. They do not unnecessarily prioritize increasing headcount, budget size, or fixed expenses. |
| Deliver Results | Leaders are not afraid to challenge decisions respectfully, even when uncomfortable. They possess conviction and tenacity, avoiding compromises for the sake of harmony. Once a decision is made, they commit to it fully. |