Former Amazon VP Shares Promotion Secret

The key to career advancement may be simpler than many believe. According to executive coach and former Amazon VP Ethan Evans, the most effective way to get promoted is to “solve problems for your boss.”

The Power of Problem Solving

Evans shared this insight during a recent podcast interview with Ryan Peterman. He attributes the advice to a former Amazon colleague now holding a senior VP position at Walmart. “If you're solving their problems, they will value you,” Evans explained, adding that this value makes a boss more likely to support requests for increased responsibility.

“They don’t want to lose you, because not everyone’s helping them that way,” he continued. “Even a so-called bad boss will often take care of someone who’s helping them.”

Evans' Amazon Experience

During his 15 years at Amazon, Evans led global teams exceeding 800 people across divisions like the Amazon Appstore and Amazon Gaming. He directly promoted eight reports from senior manager to director and contributed to the advancement of numerous other leaders within the company.

Beyond Hard Work: Skill Development

Evans noted that a common reason employees plateau is a lack of focus on developing skills required for the next level. “What gets you promoted early in life is hard, effective work,” he said. “As you get further, you need different skills: You need to be able to delegate, you need to be able to communicate.”

Letting Go of Expertise

He also emphasized the importance of shifting away from solely relying on technical skills. Evans suggested that expertise can sometimes lead to micromanagement, hindering colleagues who may prefer alternative approaches.

Seeking Advice, Not Feedback

To identify necessary skill gaps, Evans recommends frequent conversations with individuals one or two levels above your current position. He advises seeking advice rather than feedback, as people are generally more comfortable offering guidance. “Identify what’s different about that level and get good at that, as opposed to just work harder,” he said. “I see so many people working brutally hard, but ineffectively.”