Resources for IT Managers
March Madness has returned with the NCAA tournament. Year after year we see underdog teams win games against better teams. With some it is luck, but with most I think the overwhelming reason they win is the attitude they bring to the court. The business world is competitive so there is a lot we can [...]
As managers we get so busy with our own work we can overlook the needs of our employees. Do you know what makes your employees happy? The best employee performance management program will fall short of your goals if you fail to meet the basic needs of your employees. Why should you care? Employees who [...]
To be a successful manager you must be able to communicate effectively with others. One way to become a better communicator is by being more specific with your message. Do you talk with a team member about an issue but the behavior or problem continues? Do you assign tasks that are not done they way [...]
Management by walking around, sometimes called management by wandering around is the western version of the Japanese Gemba walk. It is Genchi Genbutsu which means “go and see for yourself”. The place you go to is the Gemba, the place where it happens. In this case where the work happens. Read the article The Gemba [...]
IT Managers need to be a good leader to be successful and manage successful teams. Whether you are a project manager, a department manager or a team manager learning the some basic principles of leadership is essential to becoming a better manager It is what you do that makes you successful. That is why these [...]
If you are an IT manager looking to boost your career consider adding project management skills. A lot of what IT does is project oriented. Having the knowledge and the skills to manage a small project or at least be knowledgeable of project management are very beneficial to an IT manager. Most project managers are [...]
Problems with morale in the workplace are more evident now. Employees are worried about the economy and possibly their jobs. Let us assume for this article that economic worries are not the reason for low morale in your workplace. I wrote an article a few months ago called “Tough Times Call For Strong Leadership” that [...]
Leaders are only as successful as the people who report to them. This is why it is important to develop your reports to be the best that they can be. Not only does their success directly reflect well on you but you strengthen your team to meet new challenges. Coaching is not just a tool [...]
Building positive relationships between teams and individuals is an important part of building a world-class IT organization. You need to have a positive work environment. One where you are surrounded by other team members who share in a common goal of excellence and the greater good of the department and the company. There are three [...]
As managers we all must deal with employee issues from time to time. You should have an established process for dealing with them. Your goal is to correct the issue and improve the employee. This is not about punishment for an employee. It is about using a system to help the employee return to being [...]