Amazon Interview Questions
Prepare for 54 Amazon interview questions covering Leadership Principles and bar-raising scenarios.
Question 29 of 54
What qualities do you feel make a leader successful?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Familiarize yourself with the different leadership styles and determine which style best describes you. Also, spend time researching the types of leaders Amazon aims to recruit. It has been said that Jeff Bezos has an autocratic leadership style, but he has been quoted as saying he identifies with being a transformational leader. He fosters an environment of pragmatist leaders whose standards are high and expectations even higher. However, when closely examining its leadership principles, Amazon seems to expect its leadership to motivate its teams through inspiration.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I believe the best type of person to work for leads by example at all times. They are approachable, hardworking, and fair. Also, they don't just talk the talk without walking the walk. It is irksome when a leader says that we need to put in the long hours but leaves earlier than everyone else, for instance."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"In my experience, a leader is only as successful as their investment in their people is strong. A good leader must care for their employees and make sure they are growing to meet expectations. A successful leader will communicate expectations, hold people accountable for achievable goals, and be the shining light that gets everyone fired up to do their best at all times. That means not taking favorites and leading by example at all times."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"I listen and learn. I learn what makes my team tick and listen to their needs. Sometimes, they have to figure it out on their own, and you coach and guide them and have to be willing to let them make their own mistakes before you can show them the right way of doing things. So you have to guide, advise, and give them the freedom to fail. But you should do this while simultaneously setting them up for success."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
If you are applying for a management position, draw some management qualities from the company's job description that you most identify with and feel you hold. Most inspirational leaders have exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills. What great leaders do you emulate? Share some of the qualities you admire and embrace that seem to complement the culture of Amazon and its leadership principles.
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Anonymous Answer
Leaders walk the talk and set the example. Leaders are the people who help teams grow by setting the goals high, supporting them to achieve those goals, and also holding them accountable for their actions. Leaders don't make their people comfortable but always raise the bar high enough to grow their teams' capabilities.
Rachelle's Feedback
The interviewer should be happy to know that great leadership is so important to you. This is a thoughtful answer. Next, try also describing how you embody these qualities in your leadership approach.
Anonymous Answer
I think qualities such as working hard, being a team player, communicating, and being fair, make a leader successful. Leaders should walk with the team towards the goal instead of just giving direction to the team. To be a successful leader, proper communication within the team is vital. Leaders should share the goal and ensure that everyone understands the goal and process to achieve that.
Rachelle's Feedback
This is a good general overview of a strong leader; however, I suggest ensuring that you closer emulate wording from Amazon's Leadership Principles. The company's 14 Leadership Principles are laid out so nicely and clearly - it takes just a little bit of work to go that extra mile and show your interviewer that you have spent time learning their culture, values, and beliefs around leadership. For instance, reading through the Amazon principles - you won't hear hard-working, team player, or fair/proper communicator. Instead, they may say, 'ownership,' and 'relentlessly high standards,' and 'leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully.'
Anonymous Answer
Someone who leads by example. The "do what I say, not what I do" mantra doesn't fly.
Amanda's Feedback
Leading by example is important, but it can speak more to a style than to leadership qualities. Consider making your answer more impactful by talking about the qualities that enable a person to lead by example successfully such as integrity, self-awareness, authenticity, or adaptability.
Anonymous Answer
The ability to earn the trust of the team to an extent that they themselves want to give feedback to you and share their problems and have faith in you that no one can guide them better makes a leader successful. Also, the ability to empathize and make team members comfortable along with ensuring to raise the bars to bring out the best in your team members makes a leader successful.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great response! You may wish to consider adding something actionable or goal-oriented as well. How does a good leader motivate others?
Anonymous Answer
Commitment, empathy, communication, and 360 understanding.
Stephanie's Feedback
You name some excellent leadership qualities here! To strengthen your response, I suggest providing a specific example or two. You mention that a successful leader has communication skills. Can you provide a specific example of what that looks like?
Anonymous Answer
I think there are 3 key attributes:
1) They earn trust. Without trust, you cannot lead or influence others. That is why it is important to me that I keep promises to others and I'm always honest with them.
2) They think big and set high standards. I set stretch goals for my team and then do my utmost to help them achieve those goals.
3) They develop others. I do a lot of mentoring and ad-hoc support for colleagues. This is a win for everyone, and as a side effect it builds loyalty - I had team members ask to follow me to a new employer because they learned so much.
Marcie's Feedback
Awesome. You appear to be a confident leader who knows how to build trust and loyalty. The three attributes you have listed are qualities all leaders should have and you imply that you possess them all. Great response!
Anonymous Answer
I am very accountable and lead by example. I would never ask someone to do something I would not do myself. I am moral, empathetic, and accountable. I am very responsible. I insist on high standards, but I demonstrate high standards.
Marcie's Feedback
It's great that you lead by example and are moral, empathetic, accountable, and responsible. Can you support these assertions with an example or two? Also, note that the question asks about what makes a leader successful in a more generic sense so be sure your answer doesn't just focus on you alone. Perhaps talk about a leader you've had in the past who you admired and believed was successful (and explain why).
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