What traits do you need to be an effective IT leader?
Recently, Oleg Vishnepolsky, Global CTO at DailyMail Online and Metro.co.uk, posted on LinkedIn some thoughts about the shared traits that make certain individuals masters in their chosen profession.
Oleg wrote: “You are a master if; 1) others seek your help and you know how to provide help effectively, 2) you never stop improving your knowledge, skills, and understanding, 3) you are driven by love of what you do, and 4) though you are talented, you continue to work hard.”
As Oleg is a CTO and had received almost 50,000 likes and 1.45million views on this post, the consultants in Crimson’s IT recruitment agency pondered the question: “What traits do you need to be an effective IT leader?”
We asked Google the question and it turns out that quite a few writers have addressed this topic.
Rich Hein, Senior Managing Editor of CIO magazine, identified 16 traits, including; delivering results, constant self-awareness, self-directed learning, working through others via delegation, authentic communication, decisiveness, creating a collaborative “safe-to-fail environment”, integrity, empathy, strategic thinking, and an in-depth knowledge of customers.
Business Insider published the findings from a piece of internal research by Google, which analysed the qualities that made its leading managers successful. Google identified the following characteristics; its managers were good coaches, they empowered their team, they did not micromanage, they created inclusive environments, they showed concern for well-being, they were productive and results orientated, they were good listeners and communicators, they discussed performance and supported career development, they had a clear vision, they had technical knowledge so they could advice their colleagues, and they were strong decision-makers.
Crimson’s executive search IT recruiters host a series of CIO Candidate Workshops that are designed to help aspiring CIOs and IT leaders looking for the next role. They show tech leaders how to identify their strengths and elevate the professional brands. In addition, they demonstrate how to highlight the CIOs’ core skills, competencies, career achievements, and specialisms. Interview coaching is also provided, and attendees learn how to optimise the impact of their LinkedIn accounts.
If you want to raise your profile as an IT leader, click here to find out more about Crimson’s CIO Candidate Workshops.
Crimson is an IT consultancy, an IT solutions provider, an IT recruitment agency, and a Microsoft Gold Partner operating across the UK.
