Why Tech Managers Must Also be Educators
Posted November 21st, 2016
The role of IT and technical employees within the business landscape has changed. Cloud-based solutions and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) have led many IT professionals to out of the programming roles and into those associated with project management and consultation while ensuring new solutions will integrate with current technology.
While technical skills are still a vital part of the profession, soft skills have gained in prominence. Tech workers need to be able to communicate effectively with a changing list of stakeholders and coordinate tasks between multiple departments and third-party offerings. To keep your employees prepared for the future of IT, tech managers must assume a new role as well…the role of an educator.
Adapting Skills
Since the skills required to be successful in the tech field are changing, managers need to lead the way to these new skills. Employees will need training and educational opportunities, as well as insights regarding how upper management envisions the department changing based on new technologies.
Keeping employees informed and providing avenues to gain the necessary skills to continue to excel is critical to the success of the business. Since these shifts in priorities and techniques are relatively new, it may be difficult to recruit new employees that have extensive experience. Instead, educate the employees you have now and give them a chance to rise to the challenge.
Providing Opportunities
Certain skills required in today’s tech environment are best learned on the job. That means employees need a chance to explore areas like project management while providing a service to the company. While the communication and organization required in large projects may be unfamiliar to many, proper leadership and support can help them navigate the new terrain. The same can be said for consultative and advisory roles that many IT professionals will need to fill.
Additionally, the shift away from in-house development to third-party support often requires new skills to transition successfully. There is a new mindset focused on cooperation and transparency which may be new to those who have spent their careers hard coding programs. The change requires patience and guidance from those in supervisory roles as well as opportunities to manage new priorities based on the changing paradigm.
Improving Engagement
The ability to learn, grow and advance in the field are commonly held desires amongst employees in any field, and tech is no different. By facilitating opportunities for additional education and training, your team is more likely to remain engaged on the job. Not only will their performance improve, but engaged employees are also more inclined to stay with the company over the long-term.
With unemployment rates amongst IT professionals staying incredibly low, taking the time to work with the employees you have can help you avoid future candidate searches.
Here at Bayside Solutions, we understand that the tech world is changing. Our expertise can help you locate your ideal employees as well as provide information on how to educate those under your charge. Contact us today and see how our experience can work for you.
