Leadership Principles

Customer Obsession

Leaders start with the customer and work backwards. They work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over customers.

Example Questions:

  1. Tell me about a time you worked backwards from a customer problem — how did you solve it?

  2. Tell me the story of the last time you had to apologize to someone.

  3. When you’re working with a large number of customers, its tricky to deliver excellent services to them all. How do you go about prioritizing your customers needs?

  4. Give me a example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectation. What happened, and how did you rectify the situation?

Ownership

Leaders are owners. They think long term and don’t sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say that’s not my job.

Example Questions:

  1. Tell me about a time when you had to leave a task unfinished.
  2. Tell me about a time when you had to work on a project with unclear expendabilities.
  3. Provide an example of when you personally demonstrated ownership.
  4. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.
  5. Tell me about a time when you took on something significant outside your area of responsibility. Why was it important? What was the outcome?
  6. Describe a project or idea (not necessarily your own) that was implemented primarily because of your efforts. What was your role? What was the outcome?
  7. Give an example of when you saw a peer struggling and decided to step in and help. What was the situation and what actions did you take? What was the outcome?

Hire and Develop the Best

Leaders raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent, and willingly move them throughout the organization. Leaders develop leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others. We work on behalf of our people to invent mechanisms for development like Career Choice.

  1. Tell me about a time when you mentored someone.

Think Big

Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results. They think differently and look around corners for ways to serve customers.

  1. Tell me about your proudest professional moment.
  2. Tell me about a time when you went way beyond the scope of the project and delivered.

Invent and Simplify

Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by “not invented here”. As we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time. Candidates are resourceful and discover ways to invent while also finding the simplest solution. Designs and solutions should be both novel and simple. Avoid over- complicating solutions and demonstrate your ability to think outside the box to address problems creatively.

Example Questions:

  1. Give a specific example where you drove adoption for your vision and explain how you knew it had been adopted by others.
  2. Tell me about a time when you gave a simple solution to a complex problem.
  3. Tell me about a time when you invented something.

Learn and Be Curious

Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.

Self-motivated to learn themselves rather than needing to be taught; open to new ideas and ways of getting things done; able to seek and take feedback; able to take learnings from mistakes to better oneself; curious and has a passion to learn; passionate about keeping updated with new technologies; able to grasp new concepts quickly; able to come up to speed in a new area quickly and comprehensively.

Example Question:

  1. Tell me about a time when you had to run a project that was heavily opposed.
  2. Tell me about a time when you influenced change by only asking questions.
  3. Tell me about a time when you solved a problem through just superior knowledge or observation.

Bias for Action

Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking.

Quickly identifies if more information is needed before taking action; analyzes facts quickly; is able to evaluate data and information effectively; and uses own initiative to drive forward.

Example Question:

  1. Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with incomplete information. How did you make it and what was the outcome?
  2. Tell me about a time when you took a calculated risk.
  3. Tell me about a time you needed to get information from someone who wasn’t very responsive. Whatd you do?

Are Right a Lot

Leaders are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs.

Example Question:

  1. Tell me about a strategic decision you had to make without clear data or benchmarks.
  2. Tell me about a time when you were wrong.
  3. Tell me about a time when you had to work with incomplete data / information.

Earn Trust

Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. They are vocally self-critical, even when doing so is awkward or embarrassing. Leaders do not believe their or their team’s body odor smells of perfume. They benchmark themselves and their teams against the best. Leaders garner respect and drive consensus and influence others by being right a lot; clearly, directly, promptly and appropriately communicate; and be open and listen to new ideas and ways of getting things done.

Example Question:

  1. Tell me about a time that you were delivered poor feedback. Tell me about a time that you did not work well with another individual.
  2. What would you do if you found out that your closet friend at work was stealing.
  3. Tell me about a time when you had to tell someone a harsh truth.

Have Backbone, Disagree & Commit

Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.

Challenge decisions when he or she disagrees; has conviction and is tenacious, not compromising for the sake of social cohesion; once a decision is determined, they commit wholly; challenges “the way it has always been done”; demonstrates the courage to do what is right for the business and/or customer.

Example Questions:

  1. Describe a time when you disagreed with your manager.
  2. Tell me about a time when you did not accept the status quo.
  3. Tell me about a unpopular decision of yours.
  4. Tell me about a time when you had to step up and disagree with a team members approach.
  5. If your direct manager was instructing you to do something you disagreed with, how would you handle it?

Insist on the Highest Standards

Leaders have relentlessly high standards - many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. Leaders are continually raising the bar and driving their teams to deliver high quality products, services and processes. Leaders ensure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed.

Example Question:

  1. Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision between standards and delivery.
  2. Tell me about a time when you couldn’t meet your own expectations on a project.
  3. Tell me about a time when a team member didn’t meet your expectations on a project.

Frugality

Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense.

Example Questions:

  1. Tell me about a time when you had to work with limited time or resources.

Dive Deep

Leaders operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently, and are skeptical when metrics and anecdote differ. No task is beneath them.

Example Questions:

  1. Give me 2 examples of when you did more than what was required in any job experience.

Deliver Results

Leaders focus on the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle.

Example Questions:

  1. Give me an example of a time when you were able to deliver an important project under a tight deadline.
  2. What is the most difficult situation you have ever faced in your life? How did you handle it?
  3. Give me a example of a time when you were 75% of the way through a project, and you had to pivot strategy – how were you able to make that into a success story?