IT Staff Motivation & Development: build a world class team

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

IT Staff Motivation and Development: build a world class team
Your competition wants your best people. Keep them with you when you motivate and develop them. This material will not only help you retain your key employees, , , it will also lead to a stronger and more capable team.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Create an enthusiastic team that has everyone focused on the same target and ‘watch out’. Not only is it powerful and something you will remember forever, , , it is also a lot of fun.

This publication goes to the heart of empowering technical resources so they feel good about what they do. Nothing feels more rewarding than when your company and client tells your team that they are doing an excellent job.

Table of Contents

Book excerpts

Tools

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Practical IT Manager GOLD Series

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IT Organization: right-size your organization for success

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

IT Organization: right-size your organization for success
An IT manager needs an organization plan that builds the appropriate mix of skills, experience, capability and capacity to meet your company’s technology support needs. Don’t spend more than is needed, , , right-size your organization.

The best lesson any manager can learn is that it’s more important to the company in what the IT organization can accomplish as opposed to what the manager can accomplish. A heavy emphasis on ‘team’ and ‘teamwork’ make this publication essential in developing leadership skills that help you build an appropriate organization to meet the needs of your company.

Table of Contents

Book excerpts

Tools

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Buy the entire
Practical IT Manager GOLD Series

$279.00

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IT Strategy: align your IT vision for business value

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

IT Strategy: align your IT vision for business value
The key to keeping IT aligned with your company is to develop a practical IT strategy for your company, review it with your senior management team, and gain their support. This book takes you step by step through the whole process.

Create strategic plans for your IT organization and set yourself apart from your peers. Most IT Managers are reactive managers only because they haven’t learned the value of developing long term strategies that work. This book even discusses how to prepare for your strategy recommendation meeting with your senior management team to gain their agreement and support.

Included is an actual strategic IT plan example with CIO level insight into each component.

Table of ContentsBook excerpts

Tools

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Buy the entire
Practical IT Manager GOLD Series

$279.00

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IT Project Management: a practical approach

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

IT Project Management: a practical approach
The key to IT credibility is delivering projects successfully. Doing this is not as complex as you might think, , , I’ll give you a simple yet effective process to use and tools that will help you make it happen consistently.

Managing projects effectively is crucial for any IT manager. Establishing a reputation that you deliver projects on time and within budget with minimal problems will position you for many more responsibilities in your company.

This publication provides a “short cut” to effective project management techniques that I learned at IBM and other companies that have helped me for over 30 years. Tools are included to simplify the entire process.

Table of Contents

Book Excerpts

Tools

————————————————————

Buy the entire
Practical IT Manager GOLD Series

$279.00

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IT Due Diligence: merger and acquisition discovery process

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

IT Due Diligence: merger and acquisition discovery process   Our Best Selling e-book
The key to IT success is being able to identify what your team needs to work on. Use the process and tools I developed while conducting over 40 company acquisitions to help you assess any IT support situation.

Tools, examples, and plenty of “how to” discussion provides what you need to conduct a technology assessment efficiently and thoroughly, even a report template to help you organize and present your findings and recommendations.

Table of Contents

Book excerpts
Tools

————————————————————

Buy the entire
Practical IT Manager GOLD Series

$279.00

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Big trend in outsourcing the Data Center

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

Have you looked at outsourcing your Data Center?

If not, you may want to.

Large companies like Amazon started the trend of “co-locating” their Data Centers offsite with companies who create giant “Data Center space and support for rent”.

I’m now seeing more and more small to mid-size companies begin moving their Data Center equipment to a co-location. There are many benefits that are worth thinking about:

Space – Moving your Data Center frees up space in your company that may be better utilized for other things.

Data Center environment requirements – A co-location company invests in building, AC, and security to provide a suitable environment for Data Center equipment, , , it’s what they do.

Support resource – You can reduce the number of resources you need to support a co-located Data Center. A co-location provides systems expertise and support that you normally would have had to hire yourself.

Support critical mass – Not only does the co-location provide support resources, an organization like this typically has enough critical mass that vacations, people getting sick, or losing an employee does not affect your company like it would if you staff your own Data Center.

Energy costs – Data Centers have huge energy consumption because of the heat produced by servers and technology equipment. Moving your Data Center offsite can reduce your energy bill.

24 X 7 Backup – Co-Locations guarantee backup support for your virtual Data Center.

Systems upgrade support – Support to help you add, upgrade or eliminate servers as needed to maintain a cost effective environment.

Cost – The biggest reason is probably cost. Outsourcing your Data Center can reduce your cost by 20-70%, , , definitely something worth evaluating.

Focus – Allows you to focus on your core competency and leave much of the infrastructure work to organizations that invest in being able to do a stellar job in this area, , , reduces cost, worry, and stress associated with a traditional Data Center.

If you have input from using a co-location or experience in this area, feel free to comment.

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Prepare for your interview

Posted on April 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

I received a question today from one of my followers who is about to go into an interview next week for an IT manager position. He gave me the qualifications of the job and asked me a question, “How do I prepare for the interview?”

I sent him the information below:

To prepare for an interview, I would do the following:

  1. Learn all you can about the position, the company, and the hiring manager.
  2. Make a list of possible questions your interviewer may have and develop your responses.
  3. Make a list of “selling points” that describe the value you offer a company that hires you. Be sure to focus on “results”, not technical capability.
    1. Past accomplishments
    2. Key successes you have achieved
    3. Experiences you have relative to the position job description
  4. Key things to think about going into an interview:
    1. Managers hire managers who can get things done, , , they look for people who have delivered results.
    2. Important to talk in a business oriented manner, not in technical acronyms, , , unless the interview is for a technical position.
    3. Load up your discussion points with benefits (results, complimentary experiences, , , reasons you are a good choice).
  5. Make a list of key questions you want to learn about the position, company, or the person you will report to.
  6. Here are a couple of resources you may want to review:
    1. ITLever BLOG post – Fast Start for a New IT Manager — https://itlever.com/2010/05/24/new-it-manager-needs-a-fast-start/
    2. 20MITM e-learning session – Fast Start for a New IT Manager — http://www.20minuteitmanager.com/sessions/060602FASTSTART

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Invest in your communication skills to excel

Posted on March 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

IT managers who have great communication skills are rare, and it is the key skill that will set you apart from your peers. I tell every class that if I were a young manager the one thing I would invest in would be my communication skills.

OK, I realize this is probably not what gets you excited. Before you stop reading, consider a few benefits that come with IT managers who become effective communicators.

  1. They get what they ask for – Good communicators know how to discuss the business value of projects and IT initiatives. When you communicate benefits and justify the cost of things, , , senior management buys in.
  2. Effective communicators develop partners – More importantly, they develop partners with their clients (senior managers and department managers). Clients need to know what’s going on with IT support and keeping them up to date creates trust.
  3. Strong communicators develop respect – No one knows what you are doing unless you communicate it. Effective communicators know how to deliver IT successes with facts and numbers that demonstrate how well IT support is working.
  4. Effective communicators motivate their staff – Leadership is dependent upon effective communication. Strong communicators rally their troops when they provide vision and coach the team to succeed.

Your career will take on a whole new path if you develop strong communication skills, , , it is the key trait required to succeed in your management role. Develop all of the following skills and watch your career take off:

  • Presentation
  • Negotiation
  • Writing
  • Listening
  • Coaching

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“One is the loneliest number” – IT Manager Institute #49

Posted on March 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Linda Duntsch didn’t realize she would be the only student in the 49th IT Manager Institute. We knew the class was going to be small as there were just three paid registrations. First, one no-show from Accra, Ghana and another who requested to be allowed to attend the Atlanta class in May. Turns out that the manager who asked to postpone is also from Linda’s company.

Well, , , “The show must go on!”

When Linda told her manager she was the only one in the class, he jokingly suggested she might need “remedial instruction”. It’s obvious she has a good relationship with her manager, , , always a good thing to see.

The great thing about a small class is that we get to know one another a lot more. One of the best aspects of my travels is the opportunity I have to meet so many good people who are striving to succeed as IT managers, , , the most difficult management role in a company.

There was plenty of discussion and Linda achieved her ITBMC certification with one of the best exam scores we have had, , , looks like the “remedial help” worked.

Here are a few photos:

IT Manager Institute #49 – Columbia TN

Dinner with The Sisco’s, , , Mike, Dorine and Eddie

Cajun dinner at River Terraces overlooking the Duck River – always memorable

Small classes are fun and allow considerable more discussion of the material and what the students would like to talk about. Every class is unique with a different “class personality”. Linda made this class fun and interesting.

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To the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

Posted on March 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

On my last day in Dubai, I was able to go to the top of the tallest building in the world, , , the Burj Khalifa. It is something I’ve wanted to do in previous trips but it just never worked out.

This trip I made it happen.

What made it special is that I was able to do this sightseeing experience with one of the managers from my IT Manager Institute. Majed Al-Rukhaimi attended with two other managers from his company. They live in three different cities in Saudi Arabia. It was great to meet and work with them and being able to see the top of the Burj Khalifa with Majed made it much more fun.

The building itself is remarkable and stunning in the city skyline. The Burj Khalifa at 125 stories simply towers above all others, , , makes 50-story buildings look relatively small.

The Burj Khalifa also sits in a great tourist area, , , next to the Dubai Mall, the largest indoor mall in the world where they happen to have the largest indoor aquarium in the world.

Every night the grounds are filled with people who are there for shopping, dining, or to see the spectacular water show.

To say there is a lot to see and do in Dubai is an understatement, , , it remains one of my favorite cities to visit.

Here are a few photos from this year’s trip:

In the waiting area about to go to the top, , , the trip starts in the Dubai Mall

Majed takes a photo of the World Record Statistics display

A view of our destination inside the walk area on our way to the elevators

At the top you are literally above the clouds

A view from the top, , , notice the reflection in the building

The Burj Khalifa towers above all others, even the 40-story building below.
Dubai Mall is on the left

Majed (reflection) gets a shot of me at one of the documented historical areas

Majed Al-Rukhaimi from Saudi Arabia, , , that’s me in the reflection

A spectacular view from outside the Dubai Mall

So tall, it’s hard to get the whole building in your camera lens

The water falls inside Dubai Mall

A perspective of how the Burj Khalifa towers above the city skyline

The water show at night at Dubai Mall

I have at least one more trip planned for Dubai this year and look forward to my next visit. When I get my golf game in shape, I plan to play golf in Dubai on a trip. In one of my earlier visits was able to attend the Al Jumeirah World Golf Championship tournament which was a fun day.

One of the nice things about Dubai is that it is very safe and taxi cabs are everywhere making getting around very easy. The people in UAE know how to treat their visitors.

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