Earthquakes, Layoffs, and Reorgs

The week I announced my retirement from Amazon, there was also a 10% layoff in Prime Video, the department where I work. Inevitably, after a layoff comes some form of team reorganization, commonly known as reorgs.

I've been through many reorgs in my career. While disruptive, I've found they often present opportunities if you're observant and take charge.

Layoffs and reorgs are like earthquakes. They come unexpectedly and cause significant damage. You lose too many people. They're terrible for morale and put a heavy burden on those who remain.

But there's always a rebuilding phase.

Teams consolidate. Software ownership changes hands. Some software needs to be decommissioned. The roadmap is redone, and new plans must be drawn up. There's a ton of work to do.

There will be many questions but few people with answers. This is where opportunity lies. People gravitate towards anyone with a plan. It's the perfect time to take charge because those previously in charge are no longer around.

The perso…