"If you were to ask recently hired Amazon employees about what has surprised them most at the company, one response would top the list: 'The eerie silence in the first 20 minutes of many meetings.' After a brief exchange of greetings and chitchat, everyone sits at the table, and the room goes completely silent. Why? A six-page document that everyone reads before discussion begins. Amazon relies far more on written words to develop and communicate ideas than most companies, and this difference makes for a huge competitive advantage."