Zach on Leadership

As an organizational leader, I spend most of my time thinking about developing people and teams. It’s what I do. In this article, I’d like to tackle a myth that shapes how a lot of leaders think and behave. True or False: People should be well-rounded. Answer: False What answer did you get? Many think well-roundedness is both attainable and ideal. It is neither. Why do we think this way? For me, it’s my general educational upbringing. Just like many... Read More Read More The post People Aren’t Well-Rounded, but Teams Can Be appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

As leaders, we have a lot of expectations on us. We need to be clear communicators, skilled team builders, good at finances, and inspiring speakers. That’s a lot of expectations. For those that are new at leadership, it’s impossible to become excellent in all of these areas overnight. Developing leadership skills isn’t just about learning and practice. I’ve come to believe that there is a fundamental skill that precedes all of the higher-level skills. If you have this one skill,... Read More Read More The post The Critical Skill of Taking Correction appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, many of us focus on celebrating the significant relationships in our lives. While a bit of stretch, I’m going to use this article to focus on the aspect of my job that I love the most: leading my team. That may seem incredibly obvious, since I’m in a leadership position, but I’ve come to believe that this passion isn’t as ubiquitous as you might think. “I wish you many employees” I don’t know the origin... Read More Read More The post I ❤ My Team appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

What is the shelf-life of an organizational design? In my experience, about two years or so. Wait longer than that, and just like a loaf of bread, your organizational design will get stiff and moldy. To some, that may seem aggressive. After all, reorganizations are very disruptive, and the benefits must outweigh the costs. I’ll defend my answer, but let’s first look at the big picture. What is the purpose of an organization? Organizations exist because we believe that together,... Read More Read More The post The Short Shelf-Life of an Organizational Design appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

In the marketplace of ideas, it’s not the best ideas that win, but the best communicated ideas that win. Looking back at my career, the big moments were often defined by big presentations. Presentations are powerful opportunities, yet few put in the work to make truly great presentations. We’re all busy, so it’s tempting to throw something together quickly or just wing it. That’s fine if isn’t particularly important, but when it counts, don’t squander the chance to make a... Read More Read More The post Presentation Tips: Never Miss an Opportunity to Make an Impact appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

I’ve seen the picture above or a variation of it used to make many points. Some use it as a warning that if you give too much of yourself you won’t survive the loss. I’ve also seen it used to describe a mentor that has many shortcomings but gives you the piece that you are missing. Finally, I’ve seen it used to describe a father’s sacrificial love for his son. Art has a way of communicating different things to different... Read More Read More The post Leadership Takes a Piece appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

“Get out of your comfort zone.” How many times have you been given that advice? Probably a lot. I know I have. It’s good advice and I heed it often. In my personal and professional journey, I’ve learned that it’s not only good advice, but it’s a bit more dynamic than you might think. I’m going to use this article to develop the concept a bit. If we need to get out of our comfort zone, we need to define... Read More Read More The post Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: My Journey Towards a Growth Mindset appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

2020 is behind us. The world, of course, is still full of difficulty and challenge. This week has delivered a new round of terrible chaos. Yet, I choose to focus on the positive. While much has been taken, we’ve also been given much. One of those gifts many have been given is flexible remote work. It started off as work from home. Many of us left the office in a hurry, with the thought that we might soon return. Well,... Read More Read More The post Working from Florida: A Reprieve from Winter and a Respite Amidst Chaos appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

We live in a cynical world. A cynical world. And we work in a business of tough competitors. – Jerry Maguire The world of the corporate enterprise can be a cynical place. Week after week, I preach leadership. I do it for all of you, but I also do it for myself. By writing, I remind myself of the truth. Why do you and I need these constant reminders? Our world is cynical, and frankly, sometimes so are we. Cynicism is... Read More Read More The post A Time for Optimism: Lead without Cynicism in 2021 appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

This week, I’m reflecting on my career progression. I’ve been working in Information Technology for 22 years. I started off as a desktop support technician and now lead a large team as a technology executive. I’ve pondered the journey and the path I’ve taken. In those 22 years, I’ve held 13 distinct roles at 4 different companies. I’ve chronicled part of that journey in a previous blog series. In that same series, I identified 20 distinct “Rules for Advancement” that... Read More Read More The post Work is Temporary: Always Work Yourself out of a Job appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

Congratulations. You clicked on the link. I asked the question, “do you feel like you are failing?” For a split second, you asked yourself that question. If you made it this far, you probably answered that question with “yes,” “maybe,” or “sometimes.” Being honest with yourself is an important first step. Leadership and failure Leaders like to succeed. We like to achieve. We like to win. That gives us energy. That gets us out of bed in the morning. Failure... Read More Read More The post Do You Feel Like You Are Failing? appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

It’s Thanksgiving, a time to count our many blessings. Undoubtedly, we all have a lot to be thankful for. However, many of us struggle to muster that attitude in 2020 as we have faced a global pandemic, racial injustice, and a polarizing political season. In times like this, I often reflect upon this pertinent scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 That’s easy to say but hard to do. My company, CHS, just announced an annual earnings... Read More Read More The post Leadership Requires Gratitude Through All Circumstances appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

Every time I write a new Zach on Leadership article, I think about making my content approachable for new readers, in anticipation that they will enjoy the content and become faithful community members. This article is going to be a little different. This is for the insiders. This is for the tribe. Whether you’ve been faithfully reading for years, or only a few weeks, this message is for you. I’m going to ask for your help, but before that, I’ll... Read More Read More The post A Message for the Zach on Leadership Tribe appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

I started a new segment of my career this week. In addition to leading Development & Operations, I now have responsibility for leading our Digital Customer Platform. I am very excited about this opportunity for several reasons. Before I get into that, I’d like to explain at a high level the major items in this portfolio. Digital Customer Platform includes our customer-facing technologies such as our websites, web applications, and eCommerce capabilities. CHS isn’t solely online. We also have a... Read More Read More The post What Is a Digital Customer Platform and Why Am I Excited to Lead It? appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

It’s often said that great leaders credit their teams for success while taking personal responsibility for failure. This is good advice, and fortunately, I see this demonstrated more and more. Most would assume that the first part of that formula is the result of humility which could be either authentic or feigned. Sometimes leaders can appear like an actor giving an Oscar acceptance speech. There are lights, cameras, and celebrities giving you their undivided attention and admiration. Then out of... Read More Read More The post Are You the Type of Leader That Top Talent Wants to Follow? appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

As a technology leader, I often get asked, “Zach, what keeps you up at night?” People ask me this to derive my priorities, but it’s an odd way to do that. It’s an extreme question if taken literally. As an executive, should I lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, riddled with anxiety and inner conflict? I hope not. Also, the question is somewhat rhetorical. I think people expect me to answer with a major high-stress project, digital disruption,... Read More Read More The post I’m Not a Control Freak, but I Am an Alignment Freak appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

Four years ago, I published one of the most popular articles I’ve ever written: So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance: The Joy of Buying Technology. I repost it from time-to-time and continue to draw reactions. Since four years have passed, I thought I might be due for a follow-up article on the subject of the buy-sell dynamic in enterprise technology. In this article, I’m not going to discuss annoying sales tactics and gimmicks. I’ve covered that before. In this... Read More Read More The post So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance, Part 2: Selling Technology in the New IT Hierarchy appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

Last week, I wrote about the importance of financial competency for every leader. I covered the subject broadly and taught several principles that are applicable to everyone. If you missed that article, go back and read it, then continue on. Today’s article is about financial efficiency. I like being efficient in everything I do. I work very hard to be efficient with my time. I’ve learned how to systematically create process efficiency through Lean. Finally, I naturally enjoy being efficient... Read More Read More The post Hey Tech Leaders! Looking for Financial Efficiencies? Look Here. appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

Usually on this blog, I write about the human side of leadership. I write about the importance of caring for people on your team, serving them, casting a vision, and leading boldly into the future. That is the sort of thing that gets me up in the morning. I’ve never written about the “joy” of spending countless hours pouring over hundreds of lines in spreadsheets and financial management systems. I haven’t expressed to my readers the importance of understanding depreciation,... Read More Read More The post Leaders Must Have Command of Their Finances appeared first on Zach on Leadership.

I used to directly hire a lot of technical talent. Now, that’s mostly done by my management team. When I did that, I asked a behavioral interview question that went something like this: “Tell me about a time when you were called upon to solve a high-pressure and complex technical issue where the solution was not immediately obvious.” The answers I got were usually pretty telling. Typically, this question elicits a bit of a pained smile, as if I just... Read More Read More The post The Load Balancer with the Candlestick in the Server Room appeared first on Zach on Leadership.