How to be the Best IT Manager in the Bay Area
Posted May 13th, 2014
When you chose a career in IT, you might think that you will never have to manage people, right? Well, that is not exactly true. While you will always be able to code or work on the systems you love, the day will come when you will be asked to manage a team — either for a project or as a promotion or to fill in during a transitional period.
Managing people and the people skills that go along with it are necessary to succeed in business, and (believe it or not) technology is part of the business world.
So if you aspire to move up the corporate ladder or you have already reached management level and want to work to improve your skill sets, there are certain traits and skills that will have to either acquire or improve upon.
Management traits. Management is not about task, it is about the process and structure that must be established and followed in order to complete tasks. When you manage people, you need to follow company procedures, rules and regulations. Whether or not you agree with them is inconsequential. You need to ensure that your direct reports (and their direct reports, if necessary) do what is expected – on time and on budget, ensure that everyone has the resources they need to do their job correctly and ensure that harmony prevails.
- Managing people is skills you must have to gain entry to the management ranks. However, at some point, you are going to need to lead…to have a vision of where you want you, your people and your company to be in the next couple of year. This means you have to constantly rethink your methods and your procedures and figure out how to get to the next level. Within the world of IT, change happens all the time, so what got you noticed in the first place will probably not propel you further.
Other skills. There are a lot of other skills that you will need to hone on your way up the ladder; however, the list is not insurmountable. Leadership and management are about making connections and empowerment. Your focus is not on doing the work, but on providing an environment and a vision where others can do the work that will push your company into the future. Therefore, some additional traits are needed.
— Networking skills
— Collaboration skills
— Listening skills
— Communication skills
— Motivational skills
— Empathy
— Financial skills
— Profit & loss accountability
— Consistency
— Honesty
— Change program implementation
When you are looking to augment your staff, you want the right person – a person who can grow and evolve with your company. Work with Bayside Solutions to find your next great candidate. We know what makes for a great management candidate and match them with the best companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are looking for recruiting agencies in San Francisco, contact us today.
