Ahh, what a time to be alive! Can you picture your life without dynamic eCommerce, online marketplaces and everything that’s related to the online world? Of course, not! The only thing that is left is to improve, enjoy our lives and make sure that every single day we contribute to our bright future! So, if you’re one of those people who don’t want to lag behind the innovations and progress that we see every day, this article is just for you!
As you know, Amazon is one of the largest eCommerce platforms that exist in our world. This is why practically everyone wants to become an Amazon seller. So, if you want to become a part of the Amazon family, you need to follow certain Amazon Leadership Principles that this platform has created for each and every member! Amazon itself says that they use their Amazon 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.”
Amazon Principles For Leaders To Follow
1. Customer Obsession: Leaders Start Their Career With This Principle In Their Heads
One of the first leadership principles that each Amazon seller should follow is customer obsession. If you, as a seller, don’t want to fulfill Amazon customers’ dreams and goals, you can’t sell on Amazon! You need to be obsessed with the customer service that you’re providing, and you should understand that a customer is everything! As we said, without being customer-obsessed you won’t be able to sell on Amazon, literally! If you don’t meet Amazon’s customer-focused standards, Amazon will suspend/deactivate your seller account!
This is what Amazon thinks about customer obsession “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.” As you can see, it is important to follow the principle of Amazon customer obsession: leaders start with providing a good customer service, remember!
2. Think Big!
You’d say that it’s obvious, but it’s not! Thinking inside the box is not an option, since you’re a part of Amazon, and you can’t limit yourself with just a few options. Remember, this world is full of opportunities and even Amazon sellers should take advantage of them! Think big: thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy, as it is said on Amazon’s website! This is what Amazon thinks about this principle: “Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.”
So, think big: thinking small has never created Amazon, Google or eBay!
3. Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
The principle “have backbone;disagree and commit” is one of the most important principles that ever existed on Amazon. Amazon says that “leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting,” and that’s something everyone should know and follow! What’s more, “leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.”
4. Ownership
Ownership – the act, state, or right of possessing something. Yes, ownership also plays a big role in what Amazon members do. As Amazon said, “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.””
So own it, think big and think long term! Be the best version of yourself and never say that it doesn’t concern only you!
5. Invent and Simplify
Do you know the secret of Amazon’s success? Well, it’s always innovative! At first, it was an online marketplace: there was nothing else! And now, Amazon has created an entire industry where services like Amazon Prime, Amazon publishing, retails stores, and even a virtual assistant Alexa exist! To be a good leader that’s working on Amazon, you need to follow leadership principles, especially the ones that are related to innovations!
“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.”
6. Are Right, A lot
If you want to be an Amazon leader who has a successful business and life, you need to be right! However, the “rightness” doesn’t come out of nowhere! For this, you have to develop pivotal skills, especially the ones that improve your judgement! Amazon itself says that “leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.”
7. Learn and Be Curious
What’s better than constantly learning and using that knowledge in practice? Right, nothing! This is why you have to learn, be curious, and remember “wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” In fact, this principle is related to “Invent and Simplify” principle, since you have to learn and know more in order to invent. You need certain knowledge to simplify the lives of many and earn a fortune someday! Don’t you agree?
8. Hire and Develop The Best
Imagine you’re operating a business and you need employees to help you! In order to succeed, you need not only an employee. Hiring a random person is not enough: you have to instinctively detect a talent that can ensure your success! What’s more, once you hire a person, you are responsible for their growth and their actions. This is what this principle is about!
Amazon always wants to have leaders who have the ability to raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. Amazon thinks that leaders should “recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.”
9. Insist On The Highest Standards
Honestly, not only Amazon members should have high standards. High standard is about being the best in what you do because you have certain standards to follow! They will help you on the way to success, because they won’t let you forget about the final goal that you’ve set for yourself!
Amazon itself says that “many people may think these standards are unreasonably high,” however this is not true! If you have high standards, you have everything you’re striving for! With their help you don’t want to stop, because on the one hand you should always raise the bar, and on the other hand, you need to meet your high standards! This is similar to dialectic, where contradictions exist in a harmony, and somehow lead to growth!
“Leaders are continually raising the bar and drive 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.”
10. Deliver Results
Well, it’s quite obvious that one should deliver results, however this principle is included for a reason! Without delivering results, all your knowledge, inventing skills and out-of-the-box thinking will be in vain! So, make sure you deliver results, it’s the only way to success!
“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.”
Conclusion
Leadership Principles need to be followed no matter what! If you want to be an Amazon seller and succeed on one of the strictest eCommerce marketplaces like Amazon, you need to live in harmony with these principles and requirements! So, operate your business smoothly, follow Amazon leadership principles and you will understand how easy it is to work on Amazon!
