Interviewing candidates for first-level manager positions is something that I’ve done quite a bit over the course of my career. I would guess that I’ve interviewed at least a hundred or more candidates looking to take on a first-level manager role. I can’t say that I’ve been consistently good at it. It’s taken years of practice, and the thing you learn with practice is that you always need more practice. During my time at Amazon I phone screened anywhere from one or two, to half a dozen or more...

As our time in a hybrid work environment has gone on, I’ve had to be much more intentional about staying connected with my team. I was always a “walking around” kind of leader whenever I could make the time. There’s no better way to get a sense of how the team is feeling than to walk the floor and have casual conversations. You discover lots of really interesting things that way, and many people are more apt to share concerns or observations in a situation that isn’t prescribed or otherwise...