Leading an IT team takes a unique set of traits to ensure their support as well as their motivation. Your IT team is no doubt made up of a diverse group of individuals, and you need to appeal to each and every one of them to be effective in your leadership approach. While many of the great leaders share drive and enthusiasm for what they do, they also possess these traits when leading a team of IT professionals.
Strong Vision
Having a vision of where you want your IT team to go can help you lead them to this goal with vigor as you provide the path to get there. When your team understands where you need to arrive at with each project that you do, it becomes less a question of doubt and more a move forward. When you are confident with the vision, your team will follow suit, and you can lead them with a strong sense of purpose.
Good Decision Maker
All the decisions you make for your IT department need to be in support of the vision. They may not always benefit you, but they should allow your employees to grow. Making decisions in a thoughtful way can help earn your team’s respect and improve your reputation as a leader. You need to be decisive and not waffle on any of the choices that you make. A good leader knows what constitutes a good decision and can make them with ease and grace.
Delegates Wisely
You may love what you do and want to jump in and take over every chance you get. But, you need to understand as a leader the fine art of delegation. By delegating important projects to your IT staff, you can give them more responsibility and an opportunity to prove themselves to you. Keeping all the good jobs for yourself isn’t fair either. Delegate wisely and equally, so you team feels involved and valued in their role.
Open Communication
Being open and available to your team is part of being a good leader. Having a constant communication stream that allows them to feel comfortable coming to you when there is an issue is important to effectively manage your IT staff. Make a point of getting to know your employees on a personal level and find out what they are looking for in their position. The more you can openly communicate with your team about their needs, the better you can meet their career goals and ensure retention in your department.
Customer Focused
Keeping the customer in mind for all your projects can help ensure that you are effective as a leader in the IT world. It is your job to improve the customer experience and keep them returning for more because of it. With a keen eye for what your customer needs, you can enhance their overall time with your business and increase revenues in the process, earning you additional clout as a leader.
Professional
Maintaining a level of professionalism is important in your position. Sure, you can have a good laugh with the team, but they still need to see you as their boss. Keep it professional always and keep your behavior in check. Manage your team and have them respect you enough to listen.
Honest
Above all, you want to be honest about everything that you do. All leaders possess a sense of integrity and standing by yours will be valuable down the road. Keep an upfront and honest approach and don’t bend to try and please. Know your values and be sure to stick by them to be a solid leader for your IT team.
Incorporating these traits can help you become a successful leader in the eyes of your IT team. When you need to find the right employees for your business, contact Resolute Technologies. It is a leader in employee recruitment, and its helpful consultants can give you the assistance you need to fill roles in your IT department. Contact us today!