Leadership Principles
Every roundMaster all 16 LPs with STAR-format stories that resonate with Amazon interviewers.
Overview
Key concepts
What are the LPs?
Amazon's 16 Leadership Principles are core to every single interview round. Expect at least 2–3 LP questions per round, even in technical interviews.
STAR format
Structure every answer as: Situation → Task → Action → Result. Keep it concise (2–3 minutes max). Results must be quantified wherever possible.
The 16 LPs
Customer Obsession · Ownership · Invent and Simplify · Are Right A Lot · Learn and Be Curious · Hire and Develop the Best · Insist on the Highest Standards · Think Big · Bias for Action · Frugality · Earn Trust · Dive Deep · Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit · Deliver Results · Strive to be Earth's Best Employer · Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility
Prep tip
Write out 2 strong stories per LP. Most stories can be reused across multiple LPs — identify the primary and secondary LP for each story.
Question Bank
Practice questions
Common questions asked at Amazon for this topic. Check them off as you practice. Progress is saved in your browser.
Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer when it wasn't required.
MediumDescribe a situation where you took ownership of a problem that was outside your scope.
MediumTell me about a time you strongly disagreed with a decision made by your manager or team. What did you do?
HardGive an example of a time you delivered results despite significant and unexpected obstacles.
HardTell me about a time you simplified a complex process or system. What was the impact?
MediumDescribe a project where you had to accomplish the goal with very limited resources (budget, team, or time).
MediumTell me about a time you identified and fixed a problem before it escalated or reached customers.
MediumDescribe a time you had to make a difficult decision with incomplete or ambiguous information.
HardTell me about the biggest professional risk you've taken. How did you evaluate it? What happened?
HardGive an example of how you've helped a colleague grow professionally.
EasyTell me about a time you had to earn the trust of a skeptical stakeholder or team.
MediumDescribe an instance where you proposed a bold idea. How did you get buy-in?
MediumResources
Go deeper
Free, curated materials to supplement your prep.