IT leadership is one of the most important factors for the success of a company, as it is precisely the Chief Information Officer (CIO) responsible for the interaction between managers and the team of employees in the Information Technology sector. To fulfill this role, it is necessary that the professional is trained and has experience both in the management and execution of the tasks performed by the team.
Taking into account the relevance of this position and its attributions, we created this content with information about the fundamental characteristics of IT leadership. Stay here with us and find out what they are!
1. Strategic vision
Regardless of the area in which you act, it is essential that the leader has a strategic vision. But it’s possible that this need is even greater when you think about the IT industry. After all, it is up to the CIO to define the technological solutions that will be adopted by the company, which is not a simple task.
For it to truly succeed, IT leadership needs to take into account the needs of the company and, according to them, identify the most appropriate tools. It is a job that requires training, experience, and constant updating.
2. Communication skills
While identifying the most useful solutions for business is important, this is not enough. The leader still needs to be able to demonstrate to other managers that the software and hardware he has the best value for money for the company —which can be especially difficult if his peers don’t understand the issue.
The professional should also be able to transmit to employees the decisions and strategies elaborated with the other managers, as well as to guide them so that the execution of their tasks occurs in the most efficient way possible.
3. Open mind
The leader needs to be open-minded to receive suggestions and acquire new knowledge. Thus, employees feel safe to reach the manager and make proposals. In a situation like this, IT management can figure out how to make a process more efficient, which would benefit the company as a whole.
In any case, regardless of the effectiveness or feasibility of the suggestion received, IT leadership should be respectful and listen carefully. If the idea is really unfeasible, the facts that make it impossible should be explained in an orderly manner, without any kind of debauchery. This attitude keeps the team motivated and confident, which encourages them to continue giving suggestions.
4. Ability to delegate
Finally, it is important that the leader knows how to delegate tasks so that they are performed more efficiently. Without this care, it can be fraught with work, which would obviously reduce your performance and could even affect your physical and mental health.
For this reason, it is essential that the CIO has a qualified team, with whom it can count on problem-solving and the execution of strategic activities.
It is noteworthy that the qualities mentioned above can be developed over time. With the support of the Human Resources sector, the company can empower its employees to develop the skills required by an IT leadership position.
Now that you know the main characteristics you need to have, what do you think about continuing to learn about this topic? Read our article that explains why you manage IT assets in your company!
