Loading

Cross-Functional Learning

 

Our well-rounded business content is designed for Leaders & Managers to implement change with ease & improve accountability amongst their teams. Here you'll find Articles from thought leaders in their fields, have access to practical Business Templates, learn new skills & expand on skills you already have. Stay informed & proactive...Join Us Today!

Join Now

Success Traits for IT Professionals-A Guide to feeling AND being appreciated.

By Lisa Woods (995 words)
Posted in Information Technology on October 28, 2012

There are (5) comments permalink

Add to My Toolkit

Let’s face it...IT Professionals are not always the most extroverted personalities when it comes to interaction outside of their own department.  That can be problematic for them, as well as for the overall success of the company.  As a service oriented department, personality and responsiveness are so important, but so is the value their unique and fast paced knowledge can bring.  By integrating Success Traits into their routine they will be able integrate their talents into the general population and help lead the organization.  Here are Six things all IT Professionals should do to succeed in their careers.

 

Maintain your technology proficiency.

Technology changes every day.  Much of your role in IT should be focused on continued training so that you can utilize technology to its fullest capabilities.  It is also your role to teach others in your company and support them when they need help.  The more trained you are, the more of an asset you will be to your organization.  Take advantage of the numerous seminars, training and certification courses available both in classroom settings and online. 

 

Understand industry trends.

Stay educated on industry trends.  Find ways to use technology to save your company money, secure data, and improve process efficiencies.  What is cool in the IT world does not always transfer into your business wanting to invest.  However, if you can prove the value that the technology brings, you will have a better chance of getting your ideas and expenditures approved.

 

Develop exceptional interpersonal skills.

Each department of your organization has different requirements and your job touches all of them.  You will need to learn to communicate at all levels and areas of your organization, with outside contractors and consultants.  Too often IT gets a reputation for working in a secluded bubble.  If you want to succeed, try to create an environment where you create a reputation of being integrated in each department of your organization.  Develop good relationships and make an effort to network.

 

Be patient and become a good listener.

People learn at different speeds, they have different competency levels and different interest levels in technology and programming solutions.  Your role is to provide a service, so take the time needed to train people, listen to their concerns and what they want to accomplish.  After helping someone, ask if they are satisfied with your work…and listen to their answer. 

 

Understand your company’s strategic vision.

Once you understand where your company wants to go, you can better define the tools available to support getting them there.  After understanding the overall company strategy, talk to department heads and find out what their needs will be.  Work with them in the planning stage for investments in technology.  IT is not always part of the planning process, so you need to proactively initiate these discussions and show the value your knowledge of industry trends and internal capabilities brings.

 

Excel in project management.

Whether you are planning an ERP implementation, migrating to a new operating system, establishing a help desk, upgrading your servers, or supporting the launch of an e-commerce system, project management skills are key to your success.  Consider taking a class in project management, or getting certified as a PMP (project management professional).  It will set you apart as a professional and give you the tools needed to do a better job.

 

If you currently work in IT, I encourage you to incorporate these tools into your job performance.  If you are a manager that sees value in these characteristics, I encourage you to share this article with your IT group. 

 

I hope this perspective is helpful to you in your day-to-day life.  Test out these concepts and share your results with us.  Others can benefit from your experiences.  Good luck!

 

 

{#/pub/images/lisa5.jpg}

Written by Lisa WoodsPresident & CEO ManagingAmericans.com

Lisa is a successful entrepreneur, world-class marketing strategist, dynamic business leader & author with more than 20 years experience leading, managing and driving growth in the corporate world. Today she provides Management Tools, Do-It-Yourself Training, and Business Assessments for small to mid size companies, Lisa utilizes her experience with integration techniques, organizational and cultural overhauls, financial turnarounds and strategic revitalization to help other companies succeed.  Closing the gap between strategy and hierarchy through the use of effective communication skills, Lisa's techniques successfully develop employees into exceptional leaders, results driven managers and passionate team contributors that collectively exceed objectives.

 

Do you have a question for Lisa?  Post it in our Executive Leadership Community, she will be happy to help: Ask an Expert

 

Did you find this story informative?  We would like the opportunity to keep you up to date on all of our training articles.  Please register for our newsletter so we can do just that.  


Here are some additional training articles you may be interested in: 

4 Essential Skills for Leaders, Managers & High Potentials

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: How to Develop Yourself & Your Team 

Lessons Learned Templates & Guide: A Managers Toolkit for Continuous Improvement

Work Efficiency Equation For Managers And High Performers

Overcoming Disconnect Between Middle & Upper Management

  

At ManagingAmericans.com we encourage members to go in and out of our communities to learn about different areas of business; how to work together, solve problems and improve skills.  Each community details expectations, challenges, success tips, training programs and useful resources. Growing your knowledge base and learning about all areas of business can help you navigate towards success in your career.

 

 

Comments (5)

Janet Wademan posted on: October 30, 2012

Excellent advice for aspiring IT professionals. Also provides a succinct and meaningful framework for developing staff. Thanks.

DANIEL QUIAMBAO posted on: October 30, 2012

Characteristics and traits of an IT Professionals that may be beneficial to careers should possess certain skills in this field being: analytical, a good communicator, creative, self motivated and disciplined, a good problem solver and a team player. Much more than these to become an information science professional, they will need to receive a higher education in order to obtain the knowledge and skills that are also necessary for employment and career development. Combining the learned skills with their personal characteristics can help them succeed in their desired career.

Rose posted on: May 14, 2013

Glad to found this article, nice list of points for the success traits for IT Professional like me, that feeling of being appreciated is AWESOME likewise on how well written this article was, thanks!

Data Profiling posted on: November 12, 2014

Very well written and elaborated post. Thanks for the writing.

NorthPoint Technology Group posted on: June 26, 2019

I am thankful to this blog for assisting me. I added some specified clues which are really important for me to use them in my writing skill. Really helpful stuff made by this blog.

Leave a comment

Not a robot?

>