IT Management Training is a Journey, Not a Destination

This article originally appeared in The National CIO Review.

Too often it is simply the best techie who becomes the manager when there is an unexpected opening in leadership. They are raised up regardless of training, leadership background, or management skills. To put it bluntly, this is a recipe for disaster.

In a typical IT organization, the majority of the individual contributors report to front-line managers. So that inadequate leadership training mentioned above has a snowball effect that puts a majority of your IT staff at risk of low productivity, poor morale, and reduced work quality. This is the ideal setting for low engagement and high turnover, and why it is vital for IT management training to begin while the person is still an individual contributor. 

Preliminary Training

The first, and possibly most crucial, step requires management to constantly be working to identify leadership potential, not just making rushed guesses during a time of fluctuation. From there, employees should be given foundational leadership training in topics such as emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and other related interpersonal communication skills. Fortunately, even if they never become a manager, this training is not a wasted investment. It will help them be a better employee and, in many cases, a better person.

READ THE REST ON THE NATIONAL CIO REVIEW.