The 14 Amazon leadership principles are the common tenets of Amazon employees around the world.
In 2021, Bezos, who was still CEO of Amazon at the time, made a decision to "retire bravely".
When he announced that he was about to step down as CEO, everyone was surprised when the news came out. After all, Amazon was at its peak at the time and was considered one of the most successful companies in the world.
Bezos' decision also fully demonstrates that he has great confidence in Amazon's executive team and the corporate culture he has shaped.
In the 26 years Bezos has been in charge of Amazon, he has established many principles and views, which are also considered the cornerstone of Amazon's success, and later developed into 14 "leadership principles", and each employee needs to be assessed and tested.
These 14 "leadership principles" are now being used and practiced by major Internet companies.
Here are Amazon's 14 leadership principles, enjoy:
01 Obsessed with customers
Customer Obsession
In short, the customer always comes first, no matter what happens.
This goes above and beyond any call of duty. Putting yourself on the customer's side and sacrificing yourself for the customer essentially means being willing to take a loss in order to benefit the customer, even if it's against your own terms of use or policies. If you know you made a mistake, be proactive in considering a refund, which means making it up before the customer asks for it.
Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.
02 Ownership
Ownership
Leaders are owners. They take the long view and don't sacrifice long-term value for short-term performance. They act not just on behalf of their own team, but on behalf of the entire company. They will never say "that's not my job".
Ownership means two things: (1) always prioritizing long-term goals over short-term goals, and (2) always acting on behalf of the team and the company as a whole, where everything is "your job."
Leaders are owners. They think long term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say 'that’s not my job.
03Innovation and simplification
Invent & simplify
Leaders expect and demand innovation and invention from their teams, always looking for ways to make work easier. They understand what's going on in the outside world, look for new ideas from everywhere, and don't limit themselves to the concept of "not invented by me".
When we do something new, we accept the possibility of being chronically misunderstood. The key to success is keeping it simple, and for that, constant innovation is required.
Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by ‘not invented here.’ As we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time.
04 Correct decision
Are Right, A Lot
Leaders make the right decisions most of the time. They possess excellent business judgment and keen instincts. This principle should be understood as "leaders make the right decisions."
It's not just about not making mistakes, but about seeing the big picture and being able and willing to make a 180-degree turn when necessary.
Leaders are right a lot. They have strong business judgment and good instincts.
05 curious
Learn and Be Curious
Leaders never stop learning and are constantly looking for opportunities to improve themselves. Leaders are curious about possibilities and act to explore them.
This principle can be said to be self-evident. Leaders must always strive to absorb more knowledge and improve themselves.
Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.
06 Select talents and cultivate talents
Hire and Develop the Best
Leaders continually raise the bar for hiring and promoting employees. They recognize exceptional talent and enjoy honing them through rotations in the organization. Blue comes from blue, ice comes from water, leaders train leaders, and they take their responsibilities of educating talents and cultivating people seriously.
This is also obvious, but beyond ensuring that hiring standards are raised, it is even more important that once an employment relationship is established, you continually develop your employees to bring them to their highest potential.
Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others.
07Highest standard
Insist on the Highest Standards
Leaders have almost exacting standards—standards that may seem unreasonably high to many. Leaders continually raise the bar and motivate their teams to deliver quality products, services and processes. Leaders ensure that any problems do not creep in, that they are resolved promptly and thoroughly, and that they do not recur.
Great leaders are always raising the bar and creating the highest quality products and services.
Leaders have relentlessly high standards — many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders are continually raising the bar and driving their teams to deliver high quality products, services, and processes. Leaders ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed.
08 Foresight
Think Big
Boundary thinking can only bring about limited results. Leaders boldly present and articulate big-picture strategies that inspire great results. They think about the client, think differently, and explore possibilities.
Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.
09 Positive action
Bias for Action
In business, speed is of the essence. Many decisions and actions are reversible, do not require extensive research, and we value planned risk-taking.
The rationale for this principle is that since most mistakes are not irreversible, there is nothing wrong with taking the risk of being wrong. Great leaders, therefore, act aggressively: moving fast, rather than being hamstrung by analysis.
Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking.的22分121010
10 thrifty
Frugality
Strive to achieve greater output with less input. Frugality allows us to use our brains, be self-sufficient and innovate. Adding manpower, budget, and fixed expenses doesn't earn you extra points.
This one applies universally to all startup founders: don't spend money recklessly. Basically, it is to use the least money to do the most things, to maximize the output while minimizing the input.
Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size or fixed expense.
11 earn trust
Earn Trust of Others
Leaders listen attentively, communicate openly, and respect others. Leaders are open to self-criticism, even if doing so embarrasses or embarrasses them. They don't think they or their teams are always right. Leaders hold themselves and their teams against the best leaders and teams.
Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is awkward or embarrassing. Leaders do not believe their or their team’s body odor smells of perfume. They benchmark themselves and their teams against the best.
12 Get to the bottom of it
Dive Deep
Leaders are in every step, always on top of the details, and conduct frequent reviews. No work is left out. Data is what matters. When data and feelings don't line up, it's okay to question, but trust the data.
Leaders operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently, and are skeptical when metrics and anecdote differ. No task is beneath them.
13 Dare to advise and obey the overall situation
Backbone;Disagree and Commit
Leaders have an obligation to challenge decisions they disagree with, even if doing so makes people uncomfortable. Leaders need to have faith and resilience. They don't compromise for cohesion, and once a decision is made, they commit themselves wholeheartedly.
Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.
14 Deliverables
Deliver Results
Leaders focus on key inputs to the business and deliver with satisfactory quality and on time. And no matter what the situation, always find a way to overcome all difficulties.
Leaders focus on the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle.
The above are Amazon’s 14 leadership principles, if you can truly understand and internalize them, they will definitely benefit you.