Jeff Bezos says brutal ‘drenched sheets’ test for Amazon employees is reason why business is so successful
Jeff Bezos revealed the one thing he asked of his employees to help turn Amazon into the success it is today.
Founded in the entrepreneur's garage in Bellevue, Washington three decades ago, Amazon has since become the largest online retailer in the world.
You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who's never heard the company.
But you don't grow a $2.07 trillion business by cutting corners - oh, no.
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Current Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who replaced Bezos in July 2015, admitted he had 'never seen anybody with higher standards' than Bezos.
And in its infancy, Bezos wanted to make sure both Amazon and its staff were in the best shape possible.
Speaking to CNET's Wendy Walsh in 1999, two years after Amazon went public, Bezos explained the 'test' he used to get the most out of his employees.
He described his staff as 'the hardest working, most talented, most passionate, most customer-focused' group of people, before revealing what he asked of them.
He explained: "I asked everyone around here to wake up terrified every morning, their sheets drenched in sweat."
It might sound a little extreme, but the tech magnate didn't want staff to be caught slacking.
Bezos, now Amazon's executive chairman, added that employees should be 'very precise about what it is they’re afraid of'.
He said: "They shouldn’t be afraid of our competitors; they should be afraid of our customers because those are the folks we have a relationship with."
The 60-year-old added: "Those are the folks who send us money...I believe that our customers are loyal to us right up until the second that somebody else offers them better service.”
It's widely known that Bezos implements both data-driven and anecdotal measurements to improve Amazon's customer service. In fact, 'customer obsession' is one of the main pillars of Amazon's success.
From using a rather intimidating e-mail method to resolve customer complaints, to calling up customer service mid-meeting to test feedback, Bezos certainly has a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
Elsewhere, bosses have been using secret tests to help hire employees for years. Some of these seem a little unfair; job interviews are nerve wracking enough as it is.
But they're worth bearing in mind for your next interview - just in case.
The now-famous coffee cup test sees managers judge candidates on whether or not they return and wash a mug they've used during the interview.
Then there's the unusual salt and pepper test, which assesses whether people taste their food before seasoning it.
If it works for Jeff Bezos...
Topics: Business, Technology, Amazon, Jeff Bezos
Ellie Kemp