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Are you an IT professional aspiring to a manager level role? Here Killian O’Leary, Partner and expert in cyber security and senior technology appointments, highlights some essential soft skills for aspiring technology managers…
Meet Robert. First-time passes, talks like a US GAAP professor, and is always…acing his appraisals.
Meet Jane. Transferred from client services, keeps putting her hand up for projects and always… in meetings with the CTO.
There’s a promotion available to manager level and everybody thinks Robert has it. Begrudgingly. He must do, he’s a technical genius with his finger on the pulse regarding the latest exciting tech and has a proven track record in smashing deadlines and meeting targets.
He keeps his head down all the time, literally. Jane’s by far the underdog… isn’t she?
Leaving aside the superficiality of the above scene, the point it raises for the aspiring ‘IT Manager’ is becoming critically important as businesses continue to create value-add IT functions that drive the achievement of wider business goals.
The skills required of today’s ‘IT Managers’ are so much broader and more demanding than ever before, and to make yourself a viable candidate for promotion, there are a number of essential soft skills you must master.
Communication & Commercial Awareness – You can reach a fairly senior point in IT by excelling academically and achieving targets set for you, but what will really set you apart from your peers is the soft skill set you develop around your technical knowledge. Because technology roles at a certain level really become all about people and one’s ability to engage and influence.
Day in and day out, talk to your teammates and your contacts in other departments to develop your communication abilities, develop partnerships and build awareness of commercial initiatives. Be open to training initiatives to improve your presentation, negotiation and conflict management skills. Or to really take it up a notch, and shake off those nerves, join Toastmasters or chance your arm at a few business networking events! As the next ‘Tech Leader’ In the company is now as much an external ‘Technology Ambassador’ as an internal fixer of IT-related problems.
Project Management – Don’t shy away from talking to C-level executives; actively contribute, debate and present your opinion. Take on cross-functional projects and ask for varied tasks. Don’t fret about diluting your experience through project work, it will enrich your career portfolio and provide you with super sought-after skills. Actively identify and pursue opportunities to increase business efficiencies and always maintain a comprehensive awareness of the latest business and economic developments and leading edge thought leadership.
Above all, don’t let yourself become part of the background. Get your walking and talking cap on, get yourself noticed and put yourself firmly forward.
I’ll let you decide who got the job.
Need help achieving your ambitions?
Are you a professional looking for help in achieving your ambitions? Or a professional looking to build a world class team? If so get in touch with Killian at killian.oleary@barden.ie, and he’ll take it from there. Simple.