High Signal Podcasts Evidence ledger
Method
Browse
← Back to evidence

Evidence receipt / observation

Published · transcript-backed

Ethan Evans: observation

14 Jan 2024 Lenny's Podcast Taking control of your career | Ethan Evans (Amazon)

“Why wouldn't I want people under me who can do more of my job? Frankly, that's the only way I can do less of my job.”

— Ethan Evans

Source trail

Everything needed to verify it.

Speaker
Ethan Evans
Attribution
Verified speaker
Claim type
observation
Recorded
14 Jan 2024
Publisher
Lenny's Podcast

Transcript context

…I was just talking actually to a senior PM leader who pointed out that with this kind of lean environment of a lot of flattening of orgs and a lot of layoffs, that this is becoming increasingly hard. Exactly what you're describing. There's just less spots, because companies are running more lean, and so you just kind of have to wait. I think part of this advice you just shared, which is classic do the job before you have the job makes all the sense in the world. Because once people see that you can do it, obviously they'll feel a lot more comfortable putting you in that position. And they'll be looking. I always remind people, as a leader, I want the best people under me I can have. It's not that I don't wish to promote you. If you think about my job, this helps people, right? I have selfish motivation to promote you. A lot of people think, "The bosses there holding me down." Well, maybe some bosses are, but why wouldn't I want stronger, more capable direct reports? Why wouldn't I want people under me who can do more of my job? Frankly, that's the only way I can do less of my job. Plus this pressure you're always getting from your reports. So like, "Hey, I'm ready to get promoted, because this time"... You mentioned this word inventiveness, and I was just listening to Jeff Bezos on Lex Fridman, and I don't know if you heard this, but Jeff Bezos described himself most as an inventor more than anything else that he does. Is that something that you think about? Is that influenced by Jeff Bezos any way, that idea of being an inventor as a leader?…

Stored transcript either side of the excerpt. The highlighted words are the published quote; the surrounding text is unedited source, never generated.

Search evidence