When you join the cult of Amazon, you are immediately taught the Leadership Principles. After a year or so, you will be telling non-Amazonians that they aren’t diving deep enough to earn your trust. Try get therapy at that stage 🙂
The second thing you are taught is how ask questions rather than give answers. And the first question you are taught is the New York Times Test.
When in doubt about whether something is the right thing to do, ask yourself: How would you respond if you saw this appear on the front of the New York Times?
How would you respond if you saw this appear on the front of the New York Times?
I have always loved this question and it has helped guide me through situations where I was faced with pressure to do things that I wasn’t sure were right. Pressure from people senior to me with power and in ambiguous situations when there were too many options.
The line about “Character is who you are you when no one is watching you.” is important here.
When people are under pressure, they revert to type. If stress from third parties or uncertainty causes us to take the easier track, then having a test to see what would happen if it were all exposed can help.
In this world of anonymous actions behind computer screens, it is nice to have a way to remind yourself to choose the choice to do what is right. Even if it is the treat of potential shame and exposure that drives it.
What if the whole village were shown your actions? Would you act better?
Damana Madden 