Peter Larsen’s Post

Last week I had the privilege and honor to participate in the kick off for PM Lab, a new training program on product management. It was an inspiring and energizing session with fellow product leaders from across WW Amazon Stores. In addition to what Doug shared below, one of the key takeaways for me was that great Product Managers have: (1) Deep understanding and intuition of their business’ core leverage points and economics, and (2) Creative minds that wander, change course, and go against conventional wisdom. In other words, great product managers dive deep, ideate big bold ideas, build and prioritize, and ship delightful experiences. But they also gather diverse perspectives, have backbone, and change plans when appropriate. Do you agree? What are other characteristics of great PMs?

Imagine being so obsessed with the customer that you want them to ENJOY returning your items. That's Amazon's returns and recovery department - a masterclass in effective leadership. Here's why: One of our first projects at Amazon was with the returns and recovery department. They were responsible for: • Return policies • The overall process • Creating the return experience From the jump, it was clear they embodied one of Amazon's core leadership principles: Customer obsession. Beyond reducing the hassle of returns, they wanted customers to enjoy the process – yes, actually enjoy returning things they didn’t want. Imagine that. This goal required a laser-focused clarity. They aimed to make returns so effortless that it felt almost enjoyable. A wild concept in retail, but they were determined. And here's where the leadership magic happens: clarity, alignment, and movement. Clarity: Define the goal. For Amazon, it was to revolutionize the return process. Alignment: Get everyone on the same page. This team needed to work in unison to make their vision a reality. Movement: Adapt and evolve. The retail world changes quickly; a stagnant team is a failing team. Amazon nailed this. They shifted from the hassle of boxing items and standing in post office lines to a seamless, almost enjoyable experience. Just drop off your item, no boxing, no fuss. Scan a code, and you’re out of there. Simple. This change was the result of their fluid approach to leadership - always ready to adapt and align with the ever-evolving landscape. The lesson here? Whether you’re managing a small team or an entire department, the principles remain the same. • Create clarity around your goals • Align your team with these objectives • Stay agile to navigate fast-paced changes in business This approach transformed Amazon’s return process, making it a breeze for millions worldwide. In the business realm, it’s a masterclass in leadership and customer service. A reminder that when you focus on the customer's needs and combine it with effective leadership, everyone wins. But it takes clarity, alignment, and movement to make it happen. If you enjoyed this leadership content, download the Syllabus for Lead In 30 - the leadership development training program that transforms leaders in just 30 days: https://www.leadin30.com

14 Amazon Leadership Principles

Conquer Leadership: Demystifying the 16 Amazon Principles. Hey future leaders! Just got out of an intense session with Dr. Shivangi Shukla in class where we dissected the 16 Amazon Leadership Principles, the secret sauce behind a global titan. Want a taste of that wisdom? Let's dive in! 1. Customer Obsession: Forget rivals, obsess over customer delight. Earn trust, grow, and win! 2. Ownership: Think long-term, break silos, say "we got this" not "that's not my job." 3. Invent & Simplify: Spark innovation, embrace new ideas, simplify, even if misunderstood. 4. Are Right, A Lot: Sharpen your judgment, seek diverse views, challenge your own beliefs. 5. Learn & Be Curious: Never stop learning, explore possibilities, curiosity fuels growth. 6. Hire & Develop the Best: Raise the bar with every hire, develop leaders, empower talent. 7. Insist on the Highest Standards: Set the bar high, relentlessly improve, deliver quality that lasts. 8. Think Big: Dream boldly, inspire results, bend corners in service of customers. 9. Bias for Action: Speed matters, calculated risks unlock progress, analyze later, act now. 10. Frugality: Do more with less, resourcefulness thrives in constraints, efficiency is key. 11. Earn Trust: Open ears, candid words, respectful actions, self-criticism builds trust. 12. Dive Deep: No task is beneath you, stay connected, audit often, question metrics, embrace details. 13. Have Backbone; Disagree & Commit: Voice your doubts constructively, be tenacious, commit once decisions are made. 14. Deliver Results: Focus on key inputs, deliver quality on time, rise above setbacks, never settle. 15. Strive to be Earth's Best Employer: Foster a safe, productive, diverse, and empowering environment, invest in your people's growth. 16. Success & Scale Bring Broad Responsibility: Be humble, consider your impact, strive to leave things better than you found them. Management students, which principle resonates most with you? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Let's learn from each other and build the future of leadership! #AmazonLeadershipPrinciples #FutureLeaders #ManagementStudents #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment

Amazon has over 60,000 books on the topic of 'leadership'.  The same search term draws in over 5 million results on Google Scholar.   An enormous wealth of ideas, stories, models and case studies, with their own flavours and nuances. And in a quest to support leaders’ development it can be easy to get swept up in principles and theories, and forget about the context leaders are actually operating within. (Don’t get me wrong - I *love* a great concept and visual - this is about translating the abstract into the actual experiences and expectations that leaders operate within, in order to make it meaningful). There will undoubtedly be many more ways of looking at this, but I'd like to offer two angles to consider: 🎯 Organisational Lens 👥 Interpersonal Lens 🎯 Under Organisational you have your commercial and cultural drivers. Your vision, strategy, profit drivers and goals, alongside your company values and behaviours. The way decisions are made, how information flows and how individuals and departments fit into the bigger picture and purpose. 👥 Under Interpersonal you have understanding preferences and behaviours, and valuing diversity. Appreciating and celebrating what makes you tick, and how this is similar and different to those around you. How you can step towards each other and have your needs met. Recognising how you can do more in partnership than on your own. These are often in the background and taken for granted, but by making them explicit and front of mind in relation to the different skillsets and mindsets you want to focus on, it creates a richer and more tangible space for leaders to grow. What else would you add? #leadershipdevelopment #organisationalcontext #leadershipincontext #interpersonalrelationships

#Leader as a communicator The primary role of a leader is to communicate. What to communicate is very impetus. What a Leader communicates ✓ A compelling Vision: Vision is something which should encourage all stakeholders. It should be good enough to fuel our action. A long term goal of organisation which is going to make a difference in the society. Amazon: Earth's most customer centric company, where customer can find anything online. Is not this compelling. ✓ Impetus Mission: A mission is about objective of the organisation and how it is going to be achieved. The roadmap or we call the blueprint. Mission is something how we do it rightly. ✓ Core Values: Values are morale and ethics which the organisation believes. All business decisions are taken which is ethically correct. Value system are practiced accross all stakeholders.All employees are expected to practice in every day affair. Leader communicates Vision, mission and values of the organisation and it percolates to all employees. It also motivates all inside and outside customers. #leadership #communication #vision #values Pic Courtesy: Google image

At Amazon, meetings are more than just talks. Bezos often speaks last. Amazon uses detailed 6-page memos. These memos cover everything. From goals to business analysis. Everyone reads silently at the meeting's start. This "Silent Start" makes sure everyone's on the same page. After reading, it's discussion time. Everyone's ideas and questions matter. This encourages more ideas from the team. It's about making meetings productive, not just procedural. This approach drives Amazon's culture of innovation. Want to excel in meetings like Bezos? Think deep, prepare well, and focus on what really matters. Check my free newsletter for more insights: https://lnkd.in/d78wcTCK REPOST ♻️ if you found this video useful! #Innovation #Leadership #JeffBezosTips

Have you heard about Amazon’s “Day 1” philosophy? It encourages employees to approach every day as a new beginning. They are invited to get curious, “try out,” and be nimble in their decision-making – all in the constant quest for innovation. It also beautifully exemplifies the power of experimentation and agile leadership. Agile leadership is a requirement for organizational transformation and long-term success. After all, things are constantly changing. And much of it is out of our control. An agile leader can mirror Amazon’s approach and cultivate an environment where direct reports can experiment freely without fear of reprimand. Doing so fosters a flexible and innovative environment. When teams feel encouraged to boldly step forward, they will. How can you adopt a “Day 1” philosophy? #AgileLeadership #LeadershipStrategies #GTNCoach P.S. To learn more about how you can become an agile and effective leader, check out, "3 Actionable Strategies to Become a More Agile Leader and Achieve Long-Term Success" (linked in the comments).

At Amazon, we're not just driven by innovation and customer obsession; our Leadership Principles are the backbone of how we operate and succeed. These principles are more than just words- they guide our actions and decisions every day. One principle that resonates deeply with me is "Leaders Are Right, A Lot." As an Analyst, I rely on this principle to make informed decisions based on data insights. It’s about blending confidence, humility, and continuous learning In my role at Amazon, I strive to embody this principle by actively seeking diverse perspectives, questioning assumptions, and being open to feedback. It's a reminder that leadership isn't about being infallible; it's about being committed to growth and excellence. What Amazonian principles do you find yourself applying in your own life? Let's share and learn from each other's experiences! #Leadership #AmazonianPrinciples #CareerGrowth #ContinuousLearning #DataAnalytics #Amazon #LeadershipPrinciple