7 Key Traits of an Effective IT Leader

In a modern business environment, Information Technology (IT) leaders are frequently asked to simply do more with less. They are expected to wear many different hats and maintain a keen understanding of systems and processes, all the while staying on top of a perpetual stream of new technologies and trends. In fact, a new IDG Research survey of IT decision makers indicated that infrastructure modernization is the top spending initiative for 2016 with 57 percent of survey respondents selecting it among their top three priorities with the second- and third-ranking priorities being improving IT team productivity (41 percent) and improving business intelligence/dashboards capability (40 percent). ^[1]Even as the very definition of IT evolves to incorporate digital shifts in business, and the traditional understanding of the IT team and its goals changes, IT leaders are also subject to larger organizational transformations.

Effective IT leaders now understand the value of interdepartmental collaboration and the importance of working with other teams, department leaders and executives to achieve overall business objectives.

Don’t forget to take the leadership styles quiz at the bottom.

Today’s multi-faceted IT leaders in charge of agile teams in competitive organizations embody the following 7 key traits:

They are agile and open to learning and growing

Managing people and processes in IT is different from other departments. Indeed, it’s even different from what it was a decade ago. In the new atmosphere of customer-centric organizations and empowered employees, being open-minded and knowing how to recognize new opportunities and key new trends is important.

There will always be deadlines and fires, but IT leaders should remember to keep their heads above the daily minutia to stay focused on the bigger picture of professional growth and the long-term strategies that will drive into meeting business goals. There will always be demands, problems and challenges that need to be solved, but a successful IT leader who is focused on future growth should always remember to keep up with the rest of the world as it develops. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, the stakes are higher than ever for continued evolution, especially within the IT and technology fields.

IT leaders should also welcome debate and questions. In addition to projecting an image of being a more approachable leader, this sort of debate or questioning can lead to original ideas that disrupt the status quo for the better.

They cultivate a safe and collaborative team environment

Creating a healthy and productive group dynamic is essential for the success of a modern IT leader. This is important for interacting with other departments or executives, but it is especially key for the immediate team or teams that they manage.

Empowering employees to feel safe in taking chances in spite of the occasional failure creates an environment that is more likely to generate great ideas, communication and collaboration.

In a recent New York Times piece, ‘What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team,’ years of studying teams and amassing data lead to the conclusion that many managers intuitively understand – that the most effective and productive teams are comprised of members who listen to each other and show sensitivity to other’s needs and feelings.  When team members feel valued and empowered to voice their ideas and opinions, knowing that the group will be receptive to them, the team functions better as whole. ^[2]

They are strategic thinkers

Being able to maintain visibility into how each project and task ties into a longer term strategy is a valuable trait for any leader to have. In IT, it’s important to remember that the end goal is to grow the business. IT leaders should take care to align their strategies with the company vision, mission and goals.

They understand key stakeholders and end users

There is no “business as usual” for an IT leader anymore. IT leaders are expected to use technology to help grow the business any way possible. Understanding the needs and expectations of end users makes it easier to deliver services that fit the company needs and culture. Recognizing key stakeholders in projects, and getting their buy-in and involvement early on, increases the likelihood that a project will succeed.

They understand their customers

IT no longer sits in a silo or a server room. Every level of the organization, including IT, needs to have a deep understanding of their customers and their market. In the customer experience era, even a department that is predominantly internal-facing needs to understand what it’s all for. Understanding the customers’ needs and expectations is part of contributing to the company’s brand promise, but it should also inform IT strategy. Having an understanding of the customers can help IT provide the best possible support for the rest of the company.

They are reliable, accountable and authentic

Despite digital transformation changes and all the disruptions, strong leadership qualities remain a constant. Leadership styles will vary, but leaders always want to strive to inspire their employees to be their best, most engaged and most productive selves. Being reliable, accountable and authentic lays the groundwork for becoming an inspiring leader.

People tend to admire and a leader with integrity. Leaders who exude a sense of being honest and principled incite trust because employees know that they will always make good on their word. Demonstrating integrity and being accountable will breed a sense of trust in employees.

They understand how to delegate and when to outsource

However with the complexity of today’s IT teams and challenges, understanding that no single person can do it all themselves is critical. A successful IT leader will build a team of capable people who complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses – and who can be trusted with specialized responsibilities. They will also know what is best handled in-house and when it makes sense to outsource certain duties from a financial and a resources perspective. These traits are key components of building an efficient, scalable IT team.

An effective IT leader has unlimited potential to align with business objectives and drive revenue. These seven traits shared by great IT leaders can help guide leadership and professional development. At the end of the day, however, finding your own individual leadership style will make you truly stand out in your field.

What’s your leadership style? Take this short quiz to find out.

References
[1]     C. C. IDG, "IT Trends in 2016: Using Tech to Boost Productivity," 2016. [Online]. Available: https://go.cgsinc.com/it-trends-report-boost-productivity-2016.
[2]     C. Duhigg, "What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team," New York Times, [Online]. Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/magazine/what-google-learned-from-its-....