What do you do if your performance as a system administrator needs improvement?

2 Set SMART goals

The next step is to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your improvement. These goals should be based on your assessment and aligned with your role and organization's objectives. You should also prioritize your goals and focus on the most important and urgent ones first. For each goal, you should define the actions and steps that you need to take, the resources and tools that you need to use, and the indicators and metrics that you need to measure your progress and success.

3 Learn new skills and knowledge

One of the key ways to improve your performance as a system administrator is to learn new skills and knowledge that are relevant and useful for your role. You can use various methods and sources of learning, such as online courses, books, blogs, podcasts, webinars, or certifications, to update and expand your technical and soft skills. You should also seek feedback and guidance from your manager, mentors, or colleagues, who can offer you valuable insights and advice. You should also practice and apply what you learn in your daily tasks and projects, and reflect on your results and challenges.

4 Automate and optimize your tasks

Another way to improve your performance as a system administrator is to automate and optimize your tasks and processes. You can use various tools and scripts, such as PowerShell, Ansible, Chef, or Puppet, to automate repetitive and routine tasks, such as backups, updates, or deployments. This will save you time and effort, reduce human errors, and increase consistency and quality. You can also optimize your tasks and processes by using best practices, standards, and policies, such as ITIL, ISO, or NIST, to improve your efficiency, security, and compliance.

5 Communicate and collaborate effectively

As a system administrator, you also need to communicate and collaborate effectively with your team, your clients, and other stakeholders. You need to be able to explain technical issues and solutions in a clear and concise way, using appropriate language and terminology. You also need to be able to listen actively, ask relevant questions, and provide constructive feedback. You also need to be able to work well with others, share your knowledge and expertise, respect different opinions and perspectives, and resolve conflicts and problems.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?