How IT leaders can make the leap from tech leaders to business drivers
Today, there is a need for every business to be digital, and technology as you know it lies at the heart of every business.
Determining technology’s role in enabling and driving business success has always been a top priority for IT leaders. But these days, IT leaders are also faced with the added pressure of adjusting to the recent economic and societal changes, namely, remote work and employee mobility, to drive viable business results.
IT service management organizations need the flexibility to respond to unpredictable new requirements and disruptions. In the recent Be unstoppable virtual summit, Mark Smalley pointed out that value creation with the customers, reliability, flexibility, and constant anticipation and adoption are the core principles for mastering today’s IT challenges.
Most ITSM organizations are far from being unstoppable and have a clear need to pay the many technical and organizational debts. Many find it difficult to update their operational management approaches due to the increased external pressure for change. They realize that what worked for them in the past will not work for them in the future.
A significant change to the IT operating model is needed rather than making incremental changes within their current way of working. But these changes are challenged in areas such as strategy, leadership, culture, and resistance to change.
IT leadership is a huge part of driving business outcomes. There is only so much technology can do to propel a business forward. Because at the end of the day, the driving force behind every technological advancement is an IT leader who puts in the effort to understand how technology works and lives with our world, and solve real-life problems.
In light of the recent global events, IT leaders find themselves at the intersection of business and technology. To help them make the leap from tech leaders to business drivers, we asked the best minds in IT to share some tips on how IT leaders can better adapt to this new leadership profile. Continue reading to find out more.
Tips to make the leap from tech leaders to business drivers
1. Be open-minded
Be brave and open-minded to more agile approaches, and experiment with new ideas. They may feel unfamiliar at first, but IT leaders need to realize that there is a huge performance potential waiting to be grasped. ITSM organizations need to realize that new structures lead to new behavior and these new behaviors lead to better results. Mistakes in this journey are okay and normal. What’s important is that you need to acknowledge these failures as a valuable part of your change journey
2. Don’t expect everything at once
The required agility will be simultaneous, and reliability will not come overnight. Approach the necessary changes at regular intervals with feedback. Proceed concisely and ensure you make the people come along with you while making the technical changes. Remember, cultural changes take time.
3. Wreck the status quo
“This has always worked for us”, is the most dangerous sentence one can use as an argument against change. Question the processes and procedures that have worked in the past and drive for continuous improvement every day. Bottom line: wreck the status quo to go from where you are to where you want to be.
4. Focus on value, collaborate, and promote visibility
Ask yourself this question: What behaviors do you want to see that demonstrate your focus on value? And then practice them, gather feedback, and coach until they get embedded in how you do things. Continual learning and improvement are core capabilities. Improving your work is just as important as doing your work.
Final thoughts
It’s no secret that there is a need for sharper focus and employee aspirations for meaningful and rewarding work. And in the backdrop of these requirements lies the need for a continuous and new way of engaging and working.
To become more agile and resilient, broaden your frameworks of understanding. Brainstorm situations, cultural perspectives, and experiences. And most importantly, remind yourself that being unstoppable is a collaborative mindset where we intentionally work together to solve real-life problems with technology.
