March 2023

Overwhelmed IT Professional

Your boss comes to you and says, “I need you to do this immediately, it’s a priority.” However, this is number 10 of the “priorities” that your boss has dropped on you in the past week.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to complete everything on time? Look on the bright side – maybe your boss is just giving you extra work because they value your skills. It might sound unlikely, but who knows? Regardless, you’ll still need to find a way to get everything done efficiently. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your workload.

Firstly, it’s important to prioritize your tasks. Make a list of everything that needs to be done and rank them in order of importance. This will help you focus on the most crucial tasks first and avoid wasting time on less urgent ones.

Next, try breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make the workload seem less daunting and allow you to tackle each task one at a time without feeling overwhelmed.

Additionally, consider delegating some tasks if possible. If there are colleagues or team members who can assist with certain tasks, don’t hesitate to ask for their help. It’s important to recognize that you don’t have to do everything on your own.

Another helpful tip for staying organized and efficient is to utilize technology. There are many productivity apps and tools available that can help you manage your tasks, set reminders, and track your progress. Find the ones that work best for you and incorporate them into your daily routine.

It’s also crucial to take breaks throughout the day. Working nonstop can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Make sure to schedule in short breaks or even a lunch break to recharge and refocus.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to say no if necessary. If your workload becomes too overwhelming or if a task does not align with your priorities, it’s okay to push back – nicely – so that you help your boss understand that they have provided you with too many “priorities.” “Nicely” is the key word. Because you are stressed and overworked you can overreact to the request and snap at your boss. Never a good thing as it could make you look unprofessional.

But if you keep accepting these assignments your boss will assume that you can handle them and will most likely keep giving you more. Ouch. You certainly don’t want all this work impacting your work life balance, and especially your health.

In conclusion, to help overcome being an overwhelmed IT professional, time management is a vital skill. By setting goals, prioritizing tasks, utilizing technology, taking breaks, and learning to say no when needed, you can effectively manage your time and achieve success in both your personal and professional life. Remember to continuously review and adjust your methods as needed to find what works best for you. With practice and determination, you can become a master of your own time.

Click here to see a post on setting expectations as a new tech professional.

What’s the cloud?

To become a successful tech exec, or any kind of executive, it is imperative to gain knowledge about the technology that influences your company’s business. This understanding will empower you to make informed decisions and effectively drive your organization towards sustainable growth and success.

Searching “cloud” on Google reveals not just info about sky clouds, but also the fascinating world of technology clouds. The frontrunners include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Although other players exist, let’s focus on this renowned trio for now.

First let’s understand what cloud means.

The term “cloud” may seem mystical, but it’s just a collection of technologies – servers, data storage devices, and more – owned by a provider. By leveraging the cloud, you can easily deploy your software without worrying about underlying systems. Think of it as a distributed data center you can access online, with options for direct connections.

Why is the cloud popular? Well, here are some reasons:

You don’t need to own or manage the hardware.
You don’t need to own or manage the operating systems or virtual environments.
You don’t need to worry about how much added capacity you need.
You can deploy and have your app go global immediately.
You can centralize your operations all in one place with one provider (although many companies go to a hybrid cloud environment – more than one provider).
You can reclassify your capital expenses as operational.

I could keep elaborating, but you’ve got the gist that this is a favorable aspect.

By not owning a datacenter and avoiding the need for a large team to manage systems, a company can save a substantial amount of money.

Improper planning can lead to unnecessary expenses, where one ends up paying for excessive services and capacity. However, careful consideration and strategizing for a migration to the cloud can alleviate this issue. It is crucial to recognize the significance of this planning process in order to ensure optimal utilization and cost-efficiency.

Anyway… this is a good high-level introduction. We’ll talk about cloud and other technology areas in future posts.

Becoming a Change Agent

As a tech exec, what actions can you take to drive transformative change within your company? While challenging, cultivating a sense of patience and persistence is key to effectively driving change.

To succeed, it is vital to exhibit courage and channel your focus towards the implementation of the following tactics:

Start with yourself

As humans, we all experience the force of inertia, influencing our decisions. By examining our choices, we can uncover any biases and proactively mitigate the negative impact of inertia. This empowers us to formulate effective strategies for overcoming its effects.

Recognize inertia

Identify areas within your organization, department, or project where inertia has set in. Assess how this hinders the organization’s ability to attain the desired change.

Develop change buy in

The success of change initiatives hinges on your ability to share and explore novel ideas with others. Collaborating with peers and introducing these concepts can accelerate transformative efforts within your area of responsibility. Technical professionals often struggle to influence change due to limited control over decision-making. However, employing a collaborative approach fosters buy-in. By cultivating an environment of engaged and respectful collaboration that encompasses diverse perspectives, you can effectively prompt others to embrace fresh ideas.

Influence others to change

Having an influential stakeholder as an ally wields immense power. They can drive the case for change, reinforce messages, create incentives, and accelerate behavior modifications. However, change is not achieved through power and force alone. Many technical professionals lack the authority to enforce compliance. The most effective approach is to foster an environment of collaboration and learning to create lasting change.

Implementing cultural change management can be a significant challenge, as organizations often cling to the comfort of familiar practices. However, with perseverance and a consistent approach, the long-term benefits will outweigh the initial resistance. It is vital to keep pushing forward while ensuring that you maintain positive relationships and avoid alienating others.

Tech Executive Matching Personalities

To excel in your tech executive career, focus on connecting with others by matching personalities during interactions. The key lies in grasping and adjusting to their unique communication styles and personalities. This is important because people like people who are like them. You don’t want to be phony because you want to be your authentic self. However, you also want to be able to adapt and communicate effectively with different types of people.

One way to connect with others is by understanding the four main personality types: dominant, influential, steady, and conscientious. Dominant individuals tend to be assertive and direct in communication, while influential individuals are outgoing and persuasive. Steady individuals are more reserved and cooperative, while conscientious individuals are analytical and detail oriented.

Once you have identified someone’s primary personality type, try mirroring their style of communication.

For example, if you are interacting with a dominant individual, be direct and concise in your messaging. If you are communicating with an influential person, use storytelling techniques or appeal to their emotions. For steady individuals, take a more patient and empathetic approach, and for conscientious individuals, provide them with logical reasoning and evidence.

It is also important to understand that individuals may have a blend of different personality types. In this case, it is best to adapt your communication style based on the situation and the person’s current behavior.

Encouraging authentic self-expression is important. However, adapting communication style and using similar terms when interacting with others can lead to favorable outcomes and effective connections.

For example, in sales, conducting thorough research on clients prior to meetings is crucial. Learning about their interests, including any charitable involvement, can be an effective conversation opener. By understanding their communication style, you can adjust your approach to establish rapport, encourage openness, and foster a sense of commonality in how you communicate.

This technique can also be applied to your boss. Utilize the same approach to build a positive rapport with your leader. Conflicting personalities tend to clash, hindering progress. To advance in your career, it is crucial to comprehend your boss’s working style.

In our upcoming posts, we will delve into the fascinating realm of business chemistry. This scientifically grounded approach offers valuable insights in discerning a person’s distinct personality type. Stay tuned for an exploration of this intriguing topic!

It’s crucial to acknowledge that mirroring or understanding a tech executive’s style boosts the chances of gaining their acceptance.

Click here to see a post on aligning your personality with peers in order to be successful.