IT is ever changing. It takes a special kind of person to lead a business through constant advances in technology. CIOs can sometimes be less visible than other senior business leaders, but their role is vital in the ongoing success of any organisation.
We’ve compiled a list of five features that you’ll see in effective IT leaders in Australia.
1. They’re storytellers
Good IT leaders know their audience and adjust their story accordingly. Dealing with people that have limited (or no) understanding of the often-complex technical issues that impact a business can be difficult when you’re trying to get buy-in for a key strategic project or new software endorsed to safeguard a business.
Understanding who you’re looking to influence or educate, and then presenting your story in a compelling, easy to understand manner makes it easier to get your message across and helps drive the adoption of your ideas.
2. They’re always learning
As anyone in technology knows, this is an industry that is moving at an increasingly fast pace and technology teams are often expected to know everything about the current digital landscape. IT leaders need to be well-versed in the current state of play as well as trends and upcoming technology in order to lead their teams and provide this intel to the wider business.
A thirst for knowledge and dedicated time spent reading and learning will put you ahead of the game and provide you with the tools you need to lead your team and business successfully.
3. They see each team member as an individual
Understanding how each person in your team works is key to being a successful leader. This is especially true in IT – with changing technology and the regular introduction of new and better processes and tools, it pays to understand which members of your team are the early adopters and which ones enjoy particular aspects of technology.
Knowing your team and playing to their strengths not only allows you to create a cohesive, happy group of employees, it also allows you to collectively service your organisation in the most effective way.
4. They’re comfortable with delegation
As all successful leaders will attest, delegation is vital for business success. There is little point in doing a task because you know you can do it faster, or think you can do it better, when it takes time away from tasks that only you can do, such as having conversations with senior stakeholders and creating strategic plans to strengthen your organisation.
Allowing more junior members of your team to undertake tasks is a great learning opportunity. Taking on a project that stretches them will make them a more valuable employee in the future and is an important part of the employee employer equation. Developing competencies and confidence within your team is part of the exchange that makes strong work relationships flourish.
5. They’re focused on organisational success
Everything that we’ve mentioned above leads back to one goal – ensuring the success of the business you work for.
Outstanding IT leaders influence, communicate, share knowledge and build teams, processes and solutions with the success of their organisation at the forefront of each and every project they complete. They understand that technology is the backbone of all modern businesses and are proud to be adding value to their industry of choice.
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