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…

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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…

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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,…

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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….

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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I am the proud father of four children ranging in ages from 6 to 14. I’ve seen more than my fair share of animated movies and the soundtracks that accompany them. My youngest child, Elizabeth, is a big fan of the Frozen movies. There is a silly song in Frozen 2 that makes me think. Olaf is one of the most beloved characters in the Frozen series. He is a snowman that is alive thanks to Elsa’s magical powers. He…

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I brought donuts into the office on September 11, 2001. I brought them in, but no one ate them. I eventually tossed them in the garbage. There are many stories from that fateful day. My story isn’t particularly unusual, but it’s mine, and I remember it well. 19 year ago Back then, I was a young professional, less than three years into my career. I got married the year before and we had just purchased our first house a few…

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At work, I’m known for my love of advanced technology. I enjoy being on the cutting edge. I’m an early adopter of everything new. I volunteer to be among the first to try out the new tech, even when the bugs need to be worked out. I like to play with smart boards, mixed reality, tablet computers, mobile apps, and collaboration tech. I also push hard on our pursuit of cloud technology. Because of this reputation, people often make the…

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