I blanked for a second because every instinct says 'don't criticize the thing they built their whole culture around.' Ended up picking one and framing it as a tension I've felt personally rather than a flaw in the principle itself.
Choose a leadership principle that is genuinely less aligned with your natural style, but frame it as an area where you have grown and developed coping strategies. Avoid criticizing the principle itself; instead, emphasize how you have learned to work effectively with it while leveraging your strengths.
Pro tip: Show self-awareness by acknowledging the principle's importance to Amazon's culture and give a concrete example of how you've adapted, turning a potential weakness into a learning opportunity.
Pick a principle that is not core to the role's daily requirements but still relevant, such as 'Dive Deep' if you're more of a big-picture thinker. Avoid principles like 'Customer Obsession' that are non-negotiable for Amazon PMs.
Briefly describe your natural working style and how it differs from the principle, without sounding dismissive. For example, 'I tend to move quickly and iterate, so the thoroughness of Dive Deep initially felt at odds with my pace.'
Provide a specific example of a time you consciously applied the principle, the challenges you faced, and the positive outcome. This demonstrates growth and flexibility.
Relate your adaptation to PM skills, such as balancing speed with quality or using data to inform decisions. Highlight how this experience makes you a more well-rounded PM.
Conclude by affirming your respect for all principles and your willingness to embody them, even if one is less natural. Emphasize your ability to succeed in Amazon's environment.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.