A Conversation with Dallas Olson, Chief Commercial Officer of NetApp

The Failure Gap

In this conversation, Julie Williamson, Ph.D. speaks with Dallas Olson, Chief Commercial Officer at NetApp, about his journey to leadership and the importance of navigating the gap between agreement and alignment in both personal and professional contexts. They discuss the significance of creating safe spaces for conversations, the role of curiosity in engagement, and the necessity of consistency in team alignment. Dallas shares personal anecdotes, particularly about coaching soccer, to illustrate the challenges and rewards of pursuing goals and the importance of process in strategy execution. The discussion emphasizes the need for leaders to foster an environment where team members feel safe to express their thoughts and where curiosity can lead to better collaboration and alignment.

Takeaways:

• Navigating career paths often involves unexpected turns - be open to the journey.
• The gap between agreement and alignment is common in both personal and professional life.
• You have to be in love with the process as well as the goal.
• Creating space for conversations is essential for team alignment
• Curiosity can help leaders understand and address team dynamics better.
• Assuming positive intent fosters a safe environment for discussions.
• Consistency in small actions leads to significant change over time.
• How to execute strategy is often overlooked in favor of the what and why.
• Personal growth experiences can inform professional practices - look for the lessons.
• Work-life balance is something everyone could benefit from aligning on.
• Engaging in open conversations about challenges strengthens team dynamics.