Today I want to pull back the curtains on how I got promoted from Individual Contributor to People Manager within 8 weeks of joining Amazon.
When we join a new company or a new role, the first three months are our onboarding or honeymoon period.
99% of people spend it like this:
Sit in passively on meetings without asking questions for fear of looking stupid
Take mandatory online training on workplace harassment, IT security and DEI
Take on office “housework” to appear productive or please their managers
Not talk about their previous wins for fear of appearing boastful or too much
This is a big mistake! The first two months can literally make or break your career trajectory and put you on the fast-track to your next promotion.
Here’s the step-by-step of how I jumped from an Individual Contributor role to a People Manager within 2 months of joining Amazon:
Read up on Amazon culture
Asked my manager for 3-year org plan and goals
Drafted my understanding of org goals and challenges
Met my manager for a 1:1 introduction
Shared my 5 years of people management experience
Validated my understanding of org goals and challenges
Met several stakeholders and customers for virtual coffee chats
Shared with them my prior relevant experience leading large programs
Further validated my understanding of org goals and challenges
Did a data deep-dive to understand improvement opportunities
Identified two low-friction, quick projects with instant results
Created a business plan for complex initiatives with resource ask
Met again with my manager and skip manager for a 1:1 meeting
Shared my business plan and future vision of the org
Reminded them of my prior relevant experience managing global teams and multi-million dollar projects
Delivered on the quick projects to get instant time and cost savings
Promoted the wins in team meetings
Drew a line of sight from quick wins to Org’s North Star and 3-year plan
Brainstormed with my manager the possible ways to get 2 resources
Reiterated the possible outcomes if only I had more people
Got 2 people’s reporting lines changed into me
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Your first 8 weeks in a new job or new role have the biggest impact on your career trajectory. Don’t waste it honeymooning and cruising along. Instead, take control and use it to establish yourself as the leader you already are.
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Ready to use proven strategies to ditch playing safe, position yourself as the go to leader, and command the career and compensation you deserve?
