Agreed!
As a long-time development manager (the most fun job for me) and VP of IT in large corporate worlds, you describe what I think makes a good IT manager. IT managers are stewards of good people. YOU are not responsible for designing elegant solutions or writing good code...but you are responsible for the people who are paid to do that. YOUR job as an IT manager is to be there for those people (who make your job easier) and make sure they have the things they need to accomplish their mission. Whether that is having budget for another team member, access to a decision maker or even a good dinner while they work late at night.
Long ago when I was coding CICS Assembler late at night, I wondered why my boss stayed late with us every night even though he couldn't code one line of Assembler, C or COBOL. But he would leave about 6:30 every night and come back in less than an hour with pizza, chicken, tacos or whatever. He made sure he did his job by giving us the resources we needed WHEN we needed them. This was the 80's and he even went and bought a 12-pack of beer or more to end our night. And when we delivered our code to the client on time, he looked good. And he should have! Cheers to you, Gary! You taught me well.
I have always taken this approach to managing teams and departments and it has always been rewarding. Treat people well and they will treat you well. Give them what they need to do the job and get out of their way.
