When was the last time you proved yourself when others resisted your lead?
"When I expressed interest in pursuing a leadership position, my leaders and coworkers didn't feel like I was ready, even though I'd prepared for the opportunity for over a year. My mentor believed I was ready, and I felt I was ready. But that work environment had a shark tank mentality, and I had an empathic influencer leadership style and a happy-go-lucky attitude that didn't fit the mold. My coworkers and other leaders felt I would just get eaten alive. But I kept insisting, so they agreed to give me a chance. Some said they were setting me up for failure, but I kept asking questions, studying everything that had been done before me, and preparing. Despite the obstacles they set for me, before I knew it, my teams were changing their minds and rallying behind me. Overnight I was no longer alone in my pursuit, and the number of my supporters kept growing. By the end, everyone turned around, and I was advancing ahead of my peers."
Amazon's work culture is centered around innovation and productivity; they primarily recruit inventive leaders and visionaries. Often when you have a vision, despite how talented a communicator you are, others don't share your vision. But Amazon's principles are built on visionaries who prove themselves. So share a story where you took others' perspectives, opinions, and doubts into consideration, and let those inform and guide your project towards success.
This question falls under their Leadership Principle, "Are Right, A Lot," where they state, "Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs." Jeff Bezos goes into greater detail on this principle, saying, "People who are right a lot, they listen a lot, and people who are right a lot, change their mind a lot. Sometimes you get new data, and you change your mind. Sometimes you don't get new data, and you just reanalyze the situation, and you realize it's more complicated than you initially thought it was, and you change your mind. I learned through experiences, I learned humility."
As a company, Amazon takes pride in their culture, mission, values, and principles. Not only are they guided by their Leadership Principles, but by several tenets as well. So familiarize yourself with as many of these as possible, as they will guide your answers through your Amazon interview.
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