Business Insider reports that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy yesterday told an internal employee meeting that was “brutally honest,” urging staffers “to band together as the company tries to get through an unusually challenging time.”
Here’s how Business Insider describes Jassy’s statement, which was a response to a question about simultaneous cuts and investments being made by the company:
“Jassy said there’s a lot of work to do to make progress on Amazon’s existing businesses, new businesses, across teams, and the company’s culture. That will take ‘many months’ and some of the company’s moves will be ‘misunderstood.’ But he promised employees that the progress they make will ‘redefine’ Amazon and better-position the company going forward, according to a recording of the all-hands meeting obtained by Insider.
“‘This is not work that’s going to take one or two months, you know, we’re going to make progress, meaningful progress every month, but this will take many months, and I’m quite confident that we will be misunderstood and we will be underrated,’ Jassy said.
‘And you know what, that will not be the first time it’s happened, and it will not be the last time it happens. If we focus squarely on delivering for customers and realizing, all of us as owners, that we all have a piece of making this happen, and being part of the solution, I’m quite confident that we’re going to deliver an immense amount and redefine what it is to be Amazon. I feel really strongly that our best days are unquestionably in front of us, and I look forward to making that happen with all of you,’ he added.”
KC’s View:
I’ve been saying that it remains to be seen whether Jassy has the skills to create enthusiasm and lead his folks into battle. This may be the beginning of that, but time will tell.
I do find myself wondering how the “all of us as owners” line landed. A business always is going to be healthier if employees feel ownership, but the culture has to nurture that over an extended period of time. You just can’t say it and expect it to happen.
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