Would you ever make a critical decision without approval from your boss?
As a Product Manager, you may encounter situations where you need to make an executive decision. As your career progresses, the executive decisions you make will have a greater impact on your career, team, and company. The interviewer wants to know that you are comfortable making critical yet strategic and thoughtful decisions independently. Show that you can take independent action.
One of Amazon's leadership principles is 'Bias for Action,' described on the company website as: 'Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking.' So, when it comes to making critical decisions without approval from your boss, the interviewer wants to know that if you would, it's because you felt that the decision would impact the business enough that you needed to take independent action.
If you have ever made a critical decision without your boss's approval, consider telling a brief story of the situation, the action you took, and why you did so. Also, be sure to include the results you were able to generate.
When making critical decisions without approval from your boss, express that you would take action if you felt the decision would impact the business positively. Otherwise, you can treat this question as a hypothetical query by expressing your stance and supporting it with why you would or would not choose to make a critical decision without approval from your boss.
"I have read Amazon's leadership principles thoroughly, and one principle that stood out to me was 'Bias for Action.' I understand that Amazon values speed in business. This company believes that many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. Since Amazon places a lot of value on calculated risk-taking, I say yes - I would make a critical decision without approval from my boss. This decision would come with some caveats, however. I do believe it's essential to involve all of the relevant people when facing a critical decision. I also know that I have strong decision-making and leadership capabilities. If the decision needed to be made quickly and waiting caused a negative business impact, I would take the lead and move forward based on my strong judgment and good instinct. Amazon desires its leaders to act on behalf of the company. I would take a calculated look at the worst-case and best-case scenarios to the most likely outcomes. I would also consider breaking the decision down into smaller challenges to see if I could make an executive decision based on one step rather than all. This approach could minimize the impact of a completely solo decision. If there were any other leaders available at the time who were lateral in seniority to my boss, I would consider consulting them if it were appropriate."
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