General discussion

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #2179075

    Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

    Locked

    by techwritergirl ·

    I know many desktop specialists and help desk workers hoping to break in to management. What characteristics are looked at most when promoting (or hiring) someone for IT Management? Education? Customer Service skills? Tech skills?

All Comments

  • Author
    Replies
    • #3120368

      Help Coworkers

      by wayne m. ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      The key characteristic for management is “plays well with others.” Try to help others be more effective.

      If someone is struggling with a problem, take time to help him. Write up a decision tree on how to solve a particular problem, get coworkers to contribute to it, and print it or e-mail it around. Volunteer to assist the “problem” help desk caller and try to win him over.

      Management is about getting other people to do work and do the work well. People skills are necessary to get people to do the work and technical skills are necessary to help them do the work well.

    • #3120343

      Method is simple, ancient, and reliable

      by jkameleon ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      Adulate, fawn, toadeanate, bootlick.

      > What characteristics are looked at most when promoting (or hiring) someone for IT Management?

      Sychopancy, toadyism, wheedling, servility.

      I know, I know, my advice suxx, and it shouldnt be like this. But it is.

    • #3122889

      IT Management – aka ‘Boys Club’

      by judy62 ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      My experience within IT, is if you are not crawling up the ‘boss’s rear end’ (being polite), or a male, then there is no way being a female is going to get you anywhere.

      I was in a Management position within IT until recently. My Boss finally had his way had the only remaining female manger on the floor removed. He made some lain brain excuse that my position was made redundant, but I read between the lines. There are now NO female managers within IT and he is happy about that.

      I do not believe in ‘getting into bed with the boss’ just to get ahead. If you can not make it on your own merits, then don’t bother getting into IT.

      • #3097338

        Rubbish!

        by thomasrwright ·

        In reply to IT Management – aka ‘Boys Club’

        This is so completely untrue. My boss is a woman – my last boss was a woman – her boss is a woman. We have women VP’s, directors, Sr Managers, Managers, etc. It’s about skills and results.

        MAYBE your boss is sexist – if so, then there are laws to deal with that. If not, then maybe you need to see what value you are/were providing to your company.

        • #2631586

          It’s not rubbish..it’s reality more than you know.

          by maniacman ·

          In reply to Rubbish!

          Sexism and the “Good Ole Boys” club mentality is alive and well in the corporate world and I’ve experienced it first hand. I’ve even seen racial and religious discrimination rear its ugly head in the prevention of some people moving into managerial roles. Why would a particularly attractive secretary be the highest paid among others in an office when it’s quite clear based on her lkack of intellect that she couldn’t even balance her own checkbook, let alone perform simple arithmetic and manage her boss’s schedule? The answer is because she is screwing around with the boss and her higher pay is no different than her prostituting herself for money.

      • #2631600

        Organizational Culture

        by dls_cio ·

        In reply to IT Management – aka ‘Boys Club’

        This is your boss way of creating an work environment in which makes him comfortable. It’s important directors establishes an managerial team best fit for thier stlye, weakensses, strengths and eliminate future challeges. Never make assumptions- to know a person you will have to go back in thier life to discover what makes them the way they are. Your boss may decide not to have women around due to complications in communicating in a professional manner or he may have been flasely accused of harassment at some point. We just don’t know! But, you have the skills to compete in a global economy against the best.

    • #3096671

      Easy

      by bbeckett2000 ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      Oh that one’s easy. Same answer to getting into management period, be a yes man

      • #2631588

        *EDITED*-kissing 101 is a prerequisite course for this

        by maniacman ·

        In reply to Easy

        Another “elective” that can be substituted for *EDITED*Kissing 101 is “Backstabbing and cut-throat tactics 101”. For the ladies, there is a special prerequisite course called “Sleeping with the boss for a promotion 101”. Is this politically correct? No, but it’s reality!

        Message was edited by: beth.blakely@…

    • #3079315

      It Management

      by jp-mattenet ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      Hi,
      First, no matter what others may say, Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t became a Manager because you are not a boy. It is simply not true.
      Yes it may not be as easy, but as a woman you bring a different style of management that you can use to your advantage. Don’t try to be one of us, use the differences to your advantage.

      As what to learn:

      1. Start with been a tool for the others. A good manager is a facilitator.

      2. Cultivate active listening: talk with your colueagues and offer help when requested. But primarily listen..and then ask them the solution.

      3. Get a higher view on what is the task at hand at the management level. Look for things that can be improved and volunteer to do them or Just start showing the example.

      Keep in mind that good Management is not at all the same as good technical skils. By talking the Management lead, you will have less time to actualy do technical stuff, and most of your time will be spent on organizing, facilitation and controlling…

      Management is about learning how to facilitate other peoples work, so the team can perfom better.

      Things to learn:
      1. Comunications Skils. Learn how to comunicate effectively. learn how to read other peoples body language, and how to address people concerns.
      2. Delegation Skils: learn how to plan and delgate work effectively.

      And most important, find a tutor on your organization that can help you to achieve your goals. Ask him for help,and review your plans with him periodicaly.

      Hope this helps, best luck.
      Juan pablo

    • #3097334

      Develop yourself

      by thomasrwright ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      First, make sure you’re developing your skills. You need many – time management and people skills are the most important. You can develop these skills by volunteering for projects as they come up. If you don’t see any thing internally, then look externally by volunteering in your community.

      Second, make sure you are doing a great job. No manager in their right mind would consider promoting someone who is mediocre or below.

      Third, let your manager know of your desire to move up the food chain. If he/she is any good, and if you’re any good, he’ll make an extra effort to help you progress in your career.

      Good luck!

    • #2631820

      IT Sleepers

      by dls_cio ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      So you wanna be on top? You wanna design and develop executive strategies and set alonside big investors. Well, one strategy is not to wait on promotion- take action by calling a meeting with your bosse’s boss. Have your IT strateigc plan, redesigned resume, and best confidence conversation prepared. What makes you a better leader than he/she before you? Why you want to be IT manager at present business? Lead as a leader of your experience and education. Ensure your people skills are up to task !

      • #2631598

        Brilliant!

        by jmgarvin ·

        In reply to IT Sleepers

        Step all over your current manager to get a promotion.

    • #2631582

      Looks like you’ve gotten some good advice

      by jessie ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      Never having been bitten by the management bug myself, I can only ask, WHY would you want to do this to yourself? Sure, managers make more money, but they also go to non-stop meetings during the day, then take their “real” work home with them, and they’re the first to get “reorganized” in the massive layoffs that happen frequently around this department.

      Unless I’m the boss of my own company, I’d rather stick to lead tech… it’s a heckuva lot more interesting to me than management. I hate paperwork and playing referee!

      Best of luck in your endeavors!

    • #2631928

      Arrays

      by dls_cio ·

      In reply to Tips for getting promoted to IT Managment?

      There are an array of talents and traits top managment look for bfore promoting functional employees in managerial roles. Frist, to not overlook one essential intangible attribute is: personality, Adaptable- mindset, fits culturally (some cases racially).

      Second, depending on industry, in regards to IT, managers will look at a persons performance weighed against ego – if ego is too high, depending on organizational culture, this person is best positioned as functional resource and not manager level material.

      Lastly, external/internal factors also play a role in management?s ability to manipulate scarcity- sudden hit on expansion (deregulation) causing management to reduce operation spending-termination of positions based on seniority (last man standing is suddenly handing managerial responsibilities).

      Personally, I would look at education, but also pay special attention to a persons? ability to work with people, identify business goals, work history, and performance record.

      These are but a few essential arrays management will consider before promoting a functional worker to managerial level.

Viewing 8 reply threads