Amazon’s Leadership Principles, Essay Example

Amazon’s fourteen (14) leadership principles encompass ‘customer obsession; ownership, invent and simplify, are right a lot, hire and develop the best, insist and develop the highest standards; think big; bias for action; frugality, vocally self critical, earn trust of others; dive deeply; have backbone disagree and commit and deliver results’ (Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles, 1). In the proposed article fifteen (15) behavior components were identified. This discussion seeks to draw inferences between Amazon’s (14) fourteen leadership principles and the fifteen (15) behavior components that were identified in Gary Yukl’s article.

The 4 categories and 15 behaviors in Yukl’s model, which can be represented in each principle,  are extensively linked to Amazon’s (14) leadership principles in the following pages. Essentially, the taxonomies embody task, relations and change oriented with the fourth being external. Each taxonomy has its specific characteristics, which are linked to the Amazon (14) fourteen leadership principles. For example, task relations category has four components encompassing clarifying, planning, monitoring operations and problem solving (YukI, 68)

This category could be linked to the fourteenth Amazon principle delivering results. Inevitably, it means clarifying, planning, monitoring operations and problem solving. According to the Amazon model deliver results leaders must focus on the key business input, offering a very high quality product. At the same time they must dig deep realizing that no task is beneath them performing with backbone, disagreeing and committing to tasks’ completion (Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles).

The second taxonomy exposes four components also. They are supporting, developing, recognizing and empowering in the relations oriented behavior. Amazon leadership principle explains this as earning trust of others. Specifically, this technique requires that leaders be sincere, loyal to the organization and show empathy towards customers and staff. Transparency must be discernable in their leadership practice. They must be articulate enough in motivating employees to perform at their highest potential (Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles).

Thinking big and insisting on achieving the highest standard is associated with the change oriented behavior leader. While thinking big might be a leadership quality that is insidious, some leaders learn how to be big thinker. Therefore, change is inevitable practice advocacy, be able to envision situations, encourage innovation and function as a facilitator of collective learning. According to the Amazon model small thinking undermines an organization’s goals and purpose. Predictions made by small thinkers turn out to be fulfilling prophesies. The mindset of a big thinker is entirely different due to their peculiar innovation abilities customers are motivated to participate in the business ventures (Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles).

Insisting on achieving the highest standard relates to change orientation. It encompasses hiring and assisting employees to become the best on the job. These leaders envision talent in .staff and use them for organizational growth. Frugality breathes change unveiling resourcefulness and exposing invention abilities. The forth taxonomy delivered by Yukl  is external, which centers around networking, monitoring outside of the organization and representing. From the Amazon leadership principle perspective the external taxonomy matches bias for action, customer obsession; invent and simplicity, ownership and are right a lot (Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles).

Customer obsession is an external feature, which every successful leader must capture while understanding that leaders are owners. As such, establishing networks with organizations with similar or compatible resources is mandatory. Amazon leadership philosophy assumes that leaders are always right or so most of the time (Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles).

Work cited

Amazon’s 14 Leadership Principles. Accessed on September 8^th, 2014 from http://witandwisdomofanengineer.blogspot.com/2012/05/amazons-14-leadership-principles.html

YukI Gary. Effective Leadership Behavior: What We Know and What Questions Need More Attention. Academy of Management Perspectives. 2012. Print.