According to research by CompTIA, the technology sector is responsible for economic growth in the US, more than any other profession besides healthcare.
A smooth, efficient IT ecosystem is a critical part of running a business.
Without a solid IT manager at the helm, a company simply cannot function properly, succeed, or grow. And everyone knows it.
At the same time, IT managers are often seen as just ‘firefighters’.
Much of their workday is spent putting out fires (troubleshooting IT issues), preventing fires (managing software updates and cybersecurity threats), or doing what they can to stop fires from escalating (handling numerous IT tickets and prioritizing them to deal with the most important ones first).
In between all of these problem-solving responsibilities, there is little time for IT managers to showcase their inherent leadership skills and forward-thinking capabilities.
It doesn’t have to be that way. If you are an IT team lead, IT manager, or CIO, you can turn problems into opportunities and become a leader in your organization – not just within the IT department, but across the entire company.
How? Read on.
Top Problems for IT Managers, and How to Emerge as the Leader
If you want to advance your IT career and build a professional reputation as a business leader, you may need to shift your approach to IT management. Here are three top problems that CIOs, IT managers, or team leads face in their day-to-day work, and how to turn them around:
Problem 1: Perception of IT as a ‘drain’ rather than a ‘gain’
IT departments are typically perceived as cost centers, constantly dealing with issues, asking for resources, and struggling to demonstrate their value. This perception can overshadow the significant impact IT has on business operations, financial performance, productivity, and customer satisfaction. To bridge the gap between IT and business, IT managers must find ways to showcase the positive effect of IT on the organization and communicate the value of IT to management and colleagues.
The solution: Implement an ITSM tool to track and report performance
An ITSM tool enables IT managers to track IT issues and processes in accurate detail. Using this data, they then identify areas for improvement and take action to reduce resolution times and increase efficiency. By generating reports and presenting them to management regularly, IT managers can demonstrate how IT contributes to business performance and showcase precisely how the IT department helps the business achieve its goals.
Problem 2: Budget, budget, more budget
IT departments are constantly in need of more resources and budget. This is especially true for companies that are undergoing growth and need to scale their IT activities and assets.
The ability to ‘do more with less’ is a powerful leadership quality that is in high demand. IT managers who can squeeze more from their budgets and still achieve peak performance will be on the fast track to career development. The challenge lies in finding ways to optimize costs in the IT department and demonstrate tangible savings to the company’s bottom line while running fast, efficient IT operations.
The solution: Cost optimization through ITSM
With an ITSM tool, IT managers can track and monitor resource usage, optimize processes, and identify cost-saving opportunities. For example, the ITCC platform includes an Asset Management module, so IT professionals can manage all their inventory and licenses in one centralized hub, helping to prevent overspending, theft, and loss.
The core of the cost optimization process is setting KPIs and comparing actual performance to the set goals. This enables IT managers to show senior management the direct impact of IT operations on financial performance, highlighting areas where efficiencies have been gained and pointing out actual cost savings.
Problem 3: Creating an impact beyond the IT department
IT is not the only department that offers internal services. Medium to large organizations typically have departments such as HR and maintenance that are also focused on service delivery and are looking for ways to improve performance and efficiency. This puts IT managers in an excellent position to extend their influence across the entire organization, expanding IT Service Management tools and principles to Enterprise Service Management.
The solution: Expand to ESM
Adopting an ESM solution enables the creation of service portals for departments beyond IT, such as HR, facilities management and maintenance, and finance. This helps to standardize and improve service delivery across the company. ESM helps IT managers transform IT from a narrowly focused support function to a comprehensive service department, strengthening organizational performance and employee satisfaction.
With a combined ITSM/ESM tool like IT Care Center, IT managers can drive a culture of service excellence and make their mark as a leader in the company.
Go from Manager to Leader with IT Care Center
The journey from IT manager to business leader involves overcoming key challenges and demonstrating value beyond the confines of the IT department:
- Improving business perception and value recognition
- Optimizing costs
- Expanding impact with ESM
With IT Care Center, IT managers can not only optimize IT operations but also extend their influence across the entire organization, positioning themselves as indispensable leaders in driving business success. The transition requires a shift in mindset, from managing problems (putting out fires), to leading the way with the right tools, strategies, and solutions. If you can do this, then you can leave the title ‘IT manager’ behind, become a true business leader, and take your career trajectory further than ever before.
Ready to transform your IT department and lead your organization?
Contact ITCC today for a demo and see how we can help you become a business leader.
