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No. 1: Ability to assess needs All IT managers need to know how
to assess the needs of their company as it relates to their
technologyresponsibilities. It doesnt matter what level you are;
you have to be able to discover what the real needs and issues are
so you work on the right things. Too manymanagers develop an "IT
agenda" because they don't make the effort to discover
the objectives and tangible issues of the company. Developing
the ability to qui
ckly assess the technology for your area of expertise positions
you for more responsibility. Managers who develop initiatives that
"miss the target" because they lack strong assessment skills cost
companies hundreds of thousands of dollars.Assessing technology
needs plays a major part in helping your career advance.
No. 2: Ability to create a vision To lead, you have to identify
your target andcreate a vision for your staff of where you want to
be. To lead, youhave to take charge and point the team to the
desired destination. Managers whocan develop and articulate a
vision to their staff can accomplish great things because people
will follow them. Communicating a vision tells those around you
that there is focus and that you are committed to take the
organization to a speci
fic destination.
No. 4: Ability to build the team Successful managers know the
importance of building a team that has depth as well as skill in
critical areas. Asuccessful manager must know how to improve an
existing team, as well as how tobuild a new one from scratch. Every
good manager Ive seen has the ability to build the right team for
the issues at hand and can anticipate what will be needed in the
future so that the team is prepared for new challenges. Strong
career managers are effective career builders of people. They
understand the importance ofcareer and use career building as a
tool to develop a stronger team capable of operating more
independently.
No. 5: Ability to focus the resources Focusing IT staff, money,
and technology resources on key priorities of the company is
essential to achievingsuccess. The technology resources must be
focused on initiatives that are in sync with company needs and
objectives, and they must deliver in a productive, cost-effective
manner. Career-minded people at any level understand the need for
strong focus.No. 6: Ability to implement a "client service" mindset
A high level of client service is essential for any IT
organization. Successful managers create a culturethat
places customer issues firstwhether the customers are internal
users or externalclients. Great IT managers know the reason they
have careers is because people need the technology and support
services that they provide, which is why successf
ul IT managers build excellent client relationships.
No. 7: Ability to manage projects The cornerstone of any IT
managers job is thatthe organization can deliver project
initiatives in a predictableand cost-effective manner. Effective
project management discipline must be a keypart of any manager who
expects to succeed. Regardless of your career direction
, strong project management skills will enhance your
opportunities.No. 8: Ability to implement change management
processes Technology, by its nature, demands rapid change. Every IT
manager needs to be able to understand how toeffectively implement
change, whether its swapping out a PC, upgrading an entirenetwork,
or developing and installing new software. Failure to manage change
effectively will cripple any manager.No. 9: Ability to lead and
motivate IT organizations dont get a lot done unless t
hey are motivated. IT managers who can create
significantmomentum by virtue of strong leadership and motivation
techniques always achievemore than those who cant. Getting things
done through others is a key skill requ
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ired for management success.
No. 10: Ability to communicate effectively Successful managers
can communicate on many different levels with all types of people.
More than ever, careersuccess is highly dependent upon effective
communication skills. Getting your message across to technical
staff as well as nontechnical clients, being able to manage
expectations effectively, and netting out issues and project status
with sen
ior managers are necessary skills that prevent many managers
from achieving highlevels of success. IT managers who achieve the
greatest career success are thos
e who can communicate effectively with all levels of people:
employees, peers, internal and external clients, vendors, and
senior management.
No. 11: Ability to track and measure performance Its important
to set objectivesand be able to measure your progress. Successful
managers establish specificmeasurements that tell them and others
how well the organization is doing and provide feedback that helps
managers zero in on issues that will improve the organizations
performance.
In conclusion The best managers, and the ones with successful
careers, have eachof the above-mentioned skills, and
theircompetence transcends the technical organizations and
companies that they work for. Granted, there are other skill and
career traits that promote advancement and success, such as working
proactively, having strong follow-up skills, and being able to
negotiate with vendors successfully. But when you dig down into the
core competencies of a successful IT management career, these 11
tend to stand out. Forging a successful IT management career is one
of the most challenging feats in any company, because the role is
constantly changing and being heavily scrutinized by all.
Developing each of these 11 traits as a core competency withinyour
personal makeup will help you achieve much higher success levels
and will position you for greater career responsibility.
