Things You Need To Know About Your Tech Guy
Dreading dealing with IT? Well, you shouldn’t be. Here is some info to help you get along with the IT helpdesk and build a strong relationship with your tech people.
The Tech Profession is Changing
The tech professionals today are not the tech people of the past. The future of being an IT expert is going to involve being more consultative and business oriented. Tech professionals now need to consider exactly how technology intersects with business needs and objectives. This means three things:
Greater communication with your IT department. It’s vital for you to give your IT team members the business knowledge they need to view their work in the context of the success of your business as a whole, instead of individual project work. This allows IT professionals to take on broader roles and develop systems that make sense for the business.
Business savvy IT professionals. In the present market, it’s extremely important for IT professionals to align with business objectives. According to a survey of more than 3,000 business leaders by McKinsey Global Institute, there’s a new emphasis on continuous learning and an increase in cross-functional and team-based work. A deeper understanding of information technology in business (and how the two work together) is required in today’s modern world of work.
Frequent change. Stuff moves fast in the tech world and there is a huge push for IT professionals and solutions to become more agile. As tasks, roles, and technologies continue to evolve so should your relationship with IT. Anticipating change and devising ways to adapt your IT approach to match new business demands will nurture success for all parties involved. However, it is important to remember that software moves too quickly for IT professionals to stay experts in everything. Sometimes IT professionals need more training, the chance to skill up, or more opportunities to see how your business runs.
IT Wants You to Remember the Golden Rule
Remember, it’s you and your tech person against the problem. Not you vs your tech person. It’s totally understandable to be frustrated when tech problems arise, especially when those issues derail your entire work schedule and put you behind. But, the problem won’t be solved faster by scolding the IT helpdesk. Here’s how to help IT so they can help you:
Give them an internal point person. If you outsource your IT, you’ll need an internal point of contact to best manage the relationship. Your internal IT point of contact should be in charge of: setting IT’s agenda, creating objectives, prioritizing tasks, creating a project schedule, and managing IT costs. Having a go-to person responsible for managing all of the projects your outsourced IT team is working on reduces miscommunication and does wonders for your relationship.
Treat them as a partner. Transparency, honesty, and understanding are all pillars of a successful business relationship. Working with your outsourced IT partner is no different. We get it, there is a lot to juggle when it comes to choosing and using the tech that powers your business. There are a ton of moving parts and many parties involved with your technologies, especially when you’re using a cloud-based hosting service. Treat your IT person or people as partners, be transparent, keep them informed, and they'll be alongside you and in your best interests.
Expect unexpected costs. Sometimes we need to take a step back and remember, if something goes wrong it’s not IT’s fault. But it is their responsibility to get it fixed - sometimes that can take a while. Unfortunately, unexpected errors and failures often happen with technology. This isn’t something you can anticipate in your IT department’s original estimate of their hours and the costs associated with a project. Of course you should always expect your IT partner to give you an estimate that is as realistic as possible, but you should also anticipate unforeseen errors and take them with a grain of salt.
Moser Makes IT All Better
Success for everyone is our main goal at Moser. We are dedicated to building strong partnerships that benefit our client’s technological management, development, and the individual careers of each IT professional we work with. We’re here to help perfect your IT procedures and policies and support you every step of the way. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, reach out to us today.
