Why IT Managers Should Focus on Improving Their Soft Skills
Posted December 20th, 2016
Most professionals concentrate on acquiring the hard skills needed to perform their job duties. While technical skills are critical for those working in the IT field, they are not the only skills about which you need to worry. As an IT manager, ensuring your soft skills are in shape is also vital to your success.
Soft skills involve various traits and characteristics that often seem innate in one’s personality. However, you are not stuck with your soft skills as they are today, as any skill can be improved over time. To understand why you should focus on improving your soft skills, here are some points to consider.
Leading Employees
IT managers often oversee a team of talented individuals. To keep everyone moving in the right direction, you need more than an understanding of the requirements of their jobs. You must be able to communicate effectively and encourage collaboration among team members. Additionally, you need to ensure that everyone is working towards common goals and that progress is made in a timely manner.
At times, you will need to go to bat for your team, fighting for the necessary funds and resources required to complete the work. To do so effectively, you need to build trust with the members of your IT team to make sure you are fully aware of current obstacles that can impede their progress.
Communicating With Others
Whether you are reporting to upper management or working with individuals from another department, you will need to convey complex technical ideas in a way that is accessible to those without a background in IT. This involves taking your significant technical expertise and translating it into a friendlier format.
Many people misunderstand what goes on behind the scenes on IT projects, and they underestimate the time and skill involved to see a project through the completion. In this regard, you need to be able to help others see what is required to ensure their expectations are reasonable.
Time Management
As a member of management, your attention will be needed on numerous projects seemingly simultaneously. To handle the shifting demands and expectations of others, time management skills are a necessity. You will need a thorough understanding of how long certain tasks take to complete as well as how to schedule key events during long-term projects.
Along with this comes the ability to prioritize tasks and properly delegate responsibilities among the members of your team. Failure to do either properly can lead to significant issues for yourself as well as those working in your department.
Critical Thinking and Decision Making
Though these can be seen as two different soft skills, they often work hand in hand. A large part of working in management is problem solving. You will need to assess problems and discover solutions. If more than one option exists, you must be able to choose a direction that will be of the most benefit. A lack of either of these skills means problems may linger which can harm your reputation.
If you are interested in pursuing an IT management position or would like help building your ideal IT team, Bayside Solutions can help you meet those goals. Contact us and see what we have to offer you and your business.
