What I missed most about DXC: The teams

 A little over two years ago I said goodbye to DXC Technology in a blog called, “A time to say thank you and see you later.” I talked about cycles, timing and technology. I also talked about collaborating and growing as a team and how it’s time to step aside when other members of your team are ready to take the lead. Ironically, it was the teams that I missed most about DXC and why I eventually came back “home.”

Whilst I was gone, I built my leadership skills with a mining company and one of the big four consultancies, learning and absorbing as much information as I could from those around me, but most of all learning much about myself and the way I interacted with others and my own leadership style.

The funny thing was, the more I learnt from others and about myself, the more I remembered what I loved and missed about DXC: the teams. And fortunately, before I left, Seelan Nayagam, Managing Director of DXC Technology Australia / New Zealand and I had an open and honest phone conversation one evening, and he left the door open for me to return if and when I was ready.

In my hiatus I learnt more about teams, and had to rewire some of my concepts and ideas about them. I had believed that teams need to be built of all A players. I’ve since learnt that teams made of both A and B players are best as we all fluctuate at different times. No one person can be a superhero all of the time. We all have days where we are off, or we have had a sleepless night or we just need downtime.

Teams in DXC look after each other and we recognise when people in our team need support. We do not judge when this happens. We listen and help each other thrive by working together to achieve outcomes. Teams that help each other to develop are the ones that excel.  

Dan Hushon, DXC CTO, highlights this, stating, “As our 2020 trends show, whether it’s through AI, the internet of things (IoT), data ecosystems or how we organize around teams and lead, enterprises are reaching new levels of productivity and innovation. . . . Teams, not superstars, are the high performers.” 

I completely agree.

It wasn’t a handful of individual superstars or superheroes at DXC that I missed – though we do have our fair share of those. It was the collective -- awesome teams that created a thriving environment.

One of the first things I noticed on my return to DXC was the technical experts I reconnected with, many with 30 years or more of experience working on platforms spanning the decades. They know how to integrate legacy with digital in order to deliver the best solutions for our clients. I missed them and I love our conversations now. These are people who can pick up and learn new technologies, who aren’t afraid to immerse themselves in things they know nothing about. They’ve become my trusted advisors, whom I can bounce ideas and solutions off and they add to the solution or develop it into a new way of working. 

We have lots of these wise people at DXC. They are also inspiring the next generations coming through. They are passing on their knowledge and wisdom. They want to share knowledge and they also want to learn from our graduates.

No place like home

In the 3 months that I have been back at DXC, I have been inspired and found who I am again. My fellow practice leaders in ANZ Analytics have been influential in this and made me feel welcome from day one. I’ve also found it amazing how a technology firm can shift and change so much in two years. I have had a couple months of learning new technologies from new experts, every day. Things change rapidly in this industry, and I have two years of new points of view, partnerships and innovations to get up-to-date with. It’s so inspiring and invigorating. It’s good for the soul. 

Many people from my career path outside of DXC reached out to me to find out why I was returning. One of my dear mentors said to me, “I assume DXC is your natural home.” I think this summed it up well. At DXC I can be honest and open, and I can advise and guide clients through technology whilst being me. Working for a platform agnostic technology firm is me. I like having options for solutions and data that we can chose to use for insights.   

 My return to DXC has helped me realise that some teams last a lifetime. A good team -- no matter where its members are in the world, career or organization -- is always connected. The team will always have the memories of a good project or outcome. This connection and trust leave an imprint in our memories that never leaves.

When Seelan welcomed me back, he shook my hand and said, “We really missed you.” He meant it, and it made me feel extremely valued. I am very grateful for DXC for once again having me back on this team. Thank you DXC for welcoming me back with open arms, hearts and minds. I can honestly say my second “first month” at DXC has been the best of my career and filled with the most hugs I’ve ever received and given.

The only person who can change your circumstances is you. If you’re not happy in your role, I suggest you evaluate why: Who do you miss and what do you want to do? Then it’s up to you to change something; no one will do it for you. Anyone else who is thinking, I miss working with team X or Y -- reach out to them and look for opportunities to work with them again.

 I feared returning to DXC, scared of what others would say, but at the end of the day, I need to be happy in what I do and where I work. I don’t know what the future holds, the main thing, is I know I am happy, I know I am home.