When it comes to leadership in hypergrowth companies, few have the experience and success of Frank Slootman. His book, Amp It Up: Leading for Hypergrowth by Raising Expectations, Increasing Urgency, and Elevating Intensity, is a masterclass in what it takes to lead organizations through rapid growth and unprecedented scale. Drawing from his experience as CEO of ServiceNow, Data Domain, and Snowflake, Slootman delivers actionable insights for leaders looking to “amp up” their companies and drive extraordinary results.
In this review, we’ll dive into the key lessons from Amp It Up, exploring how Slootman’s leadership principles can transform businesses and inspire leaders to embrace a more aggressive, high-performance approach.
The Amp It Up Mentality: Raising the Bar
At the heart of Amp It Up is the idea that most organizations are operating below their potential. Slootman believes that leaders must raise their standards, set higher expectations, and refuse to accept mediocrity. This shift in mindset is critical for companies that want to achieve hypergrowth.
Slootman emphasizes that leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo—it’s about pushing people beyond their comfort zones and unlocking their full potential. In today’s fast-paced, competitive environment, leaders must create a sense of urgency that drives everyone to perform at their best. Slootman’s philosophy is simple: if you’re not moving fast and raising the bar, you’re falling behind.
For leaders, this means consistently questioning whether their teams are working at their full capacity. Are they operating at the highest level? Could they be moving faster, making bolder decisions, or delivering better results? Slootman’s call to action is clear: don’t settle—amp it up.
Increasing Urgency: Making Speed a Priority
One of the most compelling points in Amp It Up is the emphasis on speed. Slootman argues that businesses must move quickly, adapt rapidly, and always keep the sense of urgency at the forefront. He believes that urgency drives productivity and focus, creating a momentum that propels teams toward success.
In many organizations, slow decision-making and bureaucratic red tape can hinder progress. Slootman’s leadership style eliminates these roadblocks, encouraging leaders to cut through the noise and make decisive, fast-paced moves. By creating an environment where urgency is embedded into the culture, leaders can foster a mindset that prioritizes speed without sacrificing quality.
Slootman also highlights the importance of setting aggressive goals that force the organization to operate with a sense of immediacy. The key is to never allow complacency to take root. Whether it’s hitting revenue targets, launching new products, or scaling operations, urgency must become part of the company’s DNA.
Elevating Intensity: Driving Relentless Execution
Beyond speed and urgency, Amp It Up encourages leaders to elevate the intensity within their teams. Slootman isn’t advocating for burnout or overwork, but rather a heightened focus and commitment to relentless execution. In hypergrowth environments, execution is everything—and leaders must inspire their teams to maintain a level of intensity that ensures every task is completed at the highest standard.
Slootman describes intensity as the antidote to mediocrity. It’s about instilling a culture where every team member is fully engaged, laser-focused, and committed to delivering results. When leaders amplify the intensity, they create a high-performance culture that thrives on accountability and ownership. Every employee knows their role, understands the mission, and is empowered to drive the company forward.
This intense focus on execution is what sets hypergrowth companies apart. Leaders who embody this principle don’t tolerate sloppiness or lacklustre effort. Instead, they create an environment where excellence is expected, and anything less is unacceptable.
Raising the Bar: Expect More from Your Team
One of the defining themes in Amp It Up is the idea of raising expectations. Slootman insists that leaders should expect more from their teams and hold them accountable to higher standards. This doesn’t mean being overly critical or unrealistic—it means believing in the potential of your team and pushing them to achieve more than they thought possible.
Slootman argues that too often, leaders allow their teams to operate at 70% or 80% of their capacity, rather than pushing for 100%. By raising the bar and creating a culture of high expectations, leaders can unlock new levels of performance and drive their organizations to greater heights. This also fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the team, as they begin to see what they’re capable of achieving when challenged.
In Amp It Up, Slootman explains that great leaders push their teams because they believe in their potential. It’s not about being harsh or demanding for the sake of it—it’s about helping people realize that they can achieve extraordinary things when given the right tools, support, and motivation.
Creating a Culture of Accountability
Another critical element in Amp It Up is creating a culture of accountability. Slootman is a firm believer that accountability is key to driving high performance. When every team member is held accountable for their results, there’s no room for excuses or finger-pointing. Instead, individuals take ownership of their work, and the team collectively moves toward success.
In hypergrowth companies, where speed and intensity are essential, accountability ensures that everyone is aligned with the company’s goals. It also fosters transparency, as people are expected to own their successes and failures. Slootman encourages leaders to create an environment where accountability is non-negotiable—every individual must understand their role, deliver on their commitments, and contribute to the larger mission.
Lessons for Unstoppable Leadership
Amp It Up isn’t just a guide for hypergrowth companies—it’s a blueprint for leadership in any high-performance environment. The lessons in the book apply to leaders at all levels, from startup founders to executives in large organizations. Slootman’s approach is direct, no-nonsense, and focused on results, making it a powerful tool for anyone looking to take their leadership to the next level.
One of the most important takeaways from Amp It Up is that leadership is about raising expectations, creating urgency, and driving intensity. Leaders who embody these principles don’t wait for things to happen—they make things happen. They inspire their teams to perform at their best, push them to new heights, and create a culture of excellence that fuels growth and success.