By: Joshua Finley
CEO of Top Tier 3PL, John Mark Cucci has spent over a decade cultivating and leading world-class teams for some of the world’s admired brands, including Amazon, FedEx, and Airbnb. His career, marked by remarkable operational excellence, safety performance, and employee engagement, reflects his commitment to building elite teams that deliver outstanding results. Drawing on his rich experience, particularly his tenure as a record-breaking leader in operations at Amazon, John Mark shares invaluable leadership tips that have been instrumental in his success.
A Foundation of Leadership Principles
At Amazon, a company renowned for its customer-centric approach and innovative culture, John Mark learned and honed leadership principles that have shaped his career. “Amazon tackles the massive challenge of being the customer-centric company in the world by leveraging the hard work and commitment of its army of fulfillment associates and managers,” John Mark notes.
Lead From the Front
John Mark emphasizes the power of leading from the front, a principle he finds almost cliché but undeniably effective. “If you want your squad to reflect your leadership, then you need to be getting dirty and putting in the work over and above what you expect of them,” he says. At Amazon, this principle translates into their leadership ideals of “ownership” and “bias for action.”
Leaders at Amazon are seen as owners who don’t quit until the job is done. They dive into problems alongside their associates, leveraging their expertise and pushing aggressively toward solutions. John Mark reflects, “Often I had associates with more technical expertise and experience within the company, and I leveraged them as we moved forward and made progress against problems that arose.”
This hands-on approach builds trust and encourages innovation. “My associates knew I had their back, and they were free to innovate and make mistakes. They expected I would help them adjust, and we would get it right, but we would never stand idle.”
Establish a Team Culture and Own It
Creating a strong team culture is another cornerstone of John Mark’s leadership philosophy. Drawing inspiration from his military experience at Fort Bragg, NC, John Mark recalls the pride and commitment of the 82nd Airborne. “There was an atmosphere of courage, strength, and pride. The soldiers on that base believed they were in the best and hardest working unit.”
In the civilian world, John Mark sought to replicate this sense of belonging and pride within his teams. On his first day in his department, he challenged his team to be the premier in the building. “I saw the eye rolls, I heard some scoff, but I also found those who had the glimmer in their eye and wanted to meet and exceed my challenge,” he remembers.
By publicly recognizing top performers and setting clear, competitive goals, John Mark nurtured a culture of excellence and accountability. “Soon enough, we were stellar. Our hour-for-hour productivity was very competitive, and our output could not be beat.”
Amazon encapsulates this approach in their principles of “deliver results” and “work hard, have fun, make history.” John Mark’s team embraced this identity, consistently exceeding goals and delivering high performance.
Aggressively Promote Your Subordinates
John Mark’s favorite leadership principle is promoting and developing subordinates. In the military, this took the form of prestigious schools and training opportunities. At Amazon, this principle is embodied in “Hire and Develop the Best.”
“Leaders at Amazon raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. They recognize exceptional talent and willingly move them throughout the organization,” John Mark explains. As a leader, ensuring the growth and advancement of team members is paramount. “If you are a true leader, then it will be your ultimate goal to ensure your team members achieve their goals.”
John Mark utilized Amazon’s professional development courses and leadership positions to advance his top performers. “The path ahead is clear, and performers can watch their resume grow quickly. This is the most rewarding feeling as a leader in any organization.”
Building a Legacy of Excellence
John Mark Cucci’s leadership journey is a testament to the power of principled leadership and relentless commitment to team development. His success at Amazon, FedEx, and Airbnb highlights the effectiveness of his three tips for leaders hoping to rise to the occasion and build high-performing teams to achieve outstanding results.
To learn more about John Cucci, visit his website at JohnMCucci.com.
Published by: Holy Minoza
