Let me ask you a quick question, honest answers only. Are you a good listener? If your answer is “Yes”; congrats. You are practicing a valuable skill that will help you build trust. If your answer is “No”; read on. Think of a time when you were not listened to. A time when you were trying to make a point, […]
Whenever you point your finger, you have three pointing back at you. Go ahead and try it…I’ll wait. Point your index finger forward. Good. See how your middle, ring, and pinky fingers point right back at you? Ok…so what’s the point? The point is that when we blame someone, or something, for our problems, we are pointing our finger at […]
How many pieces are in a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle? That’s right…1,000 small, simple pieces. But when you dump all those pieces out of the box and onto the table, it looks overwhelming. A pile of shapes and colors that don’t make sense. How can they all possibly go together and create the image on the front of the box? […]
Wouldn’t it be incredible if there were such a thing as an idea-generating machine? A magical contraption where you could simply press a button, and an incredible new idea would pop out. Whenever you were stuck, you could turn to your idea-generating machine for inspiration. Think of all the unbelievable things you could do in life if you could tap […]
What does it mean to be an IT Leader? Does it mean you manage a large team? That you make the big decisions? That you are responsible for the budget? Not at all. Those are things you may DO as a leader, but they do not DEMONSTRATE that you are a leader. Whether you are in a formal management position, or not, […]
As IT Professionals we are always looking for the next technical skill to add to our skill stack. Courses, classes, certifications, and degrees all focus on technical skills. And these skills are crucial for us to know. If you are going to be successful in IT, you have to have a solid base of technical skills. After all, we are […]
On the first day of a college class years ago, I sat down next to a fellow student. After a few moments of silence, I turned and introduced myself to him. That simple introduction started a chain of events that shaped my entire life. We became good friends. He gave me my first job in the IT field. Where I […]
IT Leaders… Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself this question: “Am I delivering difference-making technology to my organization, or am I maintaining the status quo?” If your answer is the former: Congrats…you are doing your job as an IT Leader. If your answer is the latter: Read on. As an IT leader, one of the most critical […]
I am about to make the most obvious statement anyone in IT has ever made: Technology is Changing. Of course technology is changing, technology by its very nature evolves. What we must understand, is that as technology changes; IT Leaders and Professionals need to change as well. It is no longer enough to be great technicians, we must be great […]
We are all negotiators. All day, every day, we are in the midst of negotiations — whether we know it or not. Just think about it, we are continuously interacting with people, trying to sway their opinion to see things our way. With our partner, or significant other — Where should we go for dinner? With our children — You […]