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As I see it, the Amazon leadership principles are designed to select for jerks. Specifically jerks who make money. Just look at them. One or two out of fourteen

As I see it, the Amazon leadership principles are designed to select for jerks. Specifically jerks who make money. Just look at them. One or two out of fourteen indicate to not be a jerk (Earn Trust, maybe Hire and Develop the Best) while multiple other ones rewards you for being a jerk if you succeed (Disagree and Commit, Bias for Action, Insist on the Highest Standards, Are Right A Lot, Ownership, Deliver Results, etc.). edit: Amazon's goal isn't to be a nice place to work, it's to make a lot of money and everything else is secondary to that. They are so far succeeding splendidly at that goal across multiple verticals so arguably their approach works. I wouldn't want to work there myself but you can't argue with results.

disgruntledphd2 6y ago
I think that you may be onto something there. I have noted that when I meet (many) ex-Amazon employees, a lot of them (especially on the business side) are not nice people to work with (backstabbing, destructive political games etc). It's come to a point where I kinda assume that they are likely to screw me/other people if I don't know otherwise. (Obviously this is a generalisation, I'm sure there are loads of really nice people at Amazon).
amzn-throw 6y ago
You should read the descriptions[1] of those leadership principles, not just the titles. They're not what you think. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit is specifically about NOT being a jerk who digs his heels in, and sabotages projects or decisions that they disagree with. Rather someone who is a team player and embraces the decisions of the group: Are Right A Lot is about constantly questioning your own understanding and being CAPABLE of changing your mind. We literally interview for it by asking about a time your mind was changed on something important. Ownership is about not saying "That's not my job". If there is some work to be done, and nobody's doing it, don't have a high and mighty attitude about it being beneath you. Just get it done. (e.g. Developers doing QA, Ops, Documentation, etc) Bias For Action is about taking calculated risks. Insist on the Highest Standards is the only one that I know jerks abuse. [1] https://amazon.jobs/en/internal/principles https://amazon.jobs/en/internal/principles
- astrange 6y ago
  Are the names supposed to be ironic? Because what you said isn't the impression I got from reading them. We have similar leadership principles with nicer names, although we don't use them to the point of bringing them up at meetings.

disgruntledphd2 6y ago

I think that you may be onto something there. I have noted that when I meet (many) ex-Amazon employees, a lot of them (especially on the business side) are not nice people to work with (backstabbing, destructive political games etc). It's come to a point where I kinda assume that they are likely to screw me/other people if I don't know otherwise. (Obviously this is a generalisation, I'm sure there are loads of really nice people at Amazon).

amzn-throw 6y ago

You should read the descriptions[1] of those leadership principles, not just the titles. They're not what you think. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit is specifically about NOT being a jerk who digs his heels in, and sabotages projects or decisions that they disagree with. Rather someone who is a team player and embraces the decisions of the group: Are Right A Lot is about constantly questioning your own understanding and being CAPABLE of changing your mind. We literally interview for it by asking about a time your mind was changed on something important. Ownership is about not saying "That's not my job". If there is some work to be done, and nobody's doing it, don't have a high and mighty attitude about it being beneath you. Just get it done. (e.g. Developers doing QA, Ops, Documentation, etc) Bias For Action is about taking calculated risks. Insist on the Highest Standards is the only one that I know jerks abuse. [1] https://amazon.jobs/en/internal/principles https://amazon.jobs/en/internal/principles

astrange 6y ago
Are the names supposed to be ironic? Because what you said isn't the impression I got from reading them. We have similar leadership principles with nicer names, although we don't use them to the point of bringing them up at meetings.