Good leaders are common in IT. But the difference between a good leader and a great leader is significant, and it is only the great ones that have the vision and drive to marshal in the next great innovation. If you want to operate on the cutting edge, get more out of your team, and establish yourself as a truly great leader, cultivate these traits:

• Consistency – No matter how great the challenge or how short the deadline, great IT leaders deliver results without fail.
• Self-Awareness – All leaders must be able to look inwards and evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses.
• Commitment to Growth – Commitment to professional development and personal advancement is crucial for leaders who want to stay relevant and set an example for others to follow.
• Ability to Delegate – Great IT leaders find the best person to take on tasks, and spread responsibility evenly throughout their entire team.
• Communication Skills – Communicating effectively in person, in print, and in public is essential. But it’s just as important to be a great listener.
• Authenticity – There is no place for “phoniness” when you are leading a team. Leaders who don’t believe what they say, and practice what they preach, quickly lose the respect of the people they lead.
• Decisiveness – IT is filled with uncertainty. The best IT leaders are able to identify the right course of action and inspire others to follow them down that path.
• Supportive – Leading with an iron fist is rarely an effective strategy. Great leaders make it known that failure is a learning opportunity, not a grounds for termination.
• Problem-Solving Skills – Obstacles are inevitable in IT. Effective leaders must be able to use the resources at hand and a healthy dose of critical thinking to come up with outside-the-box solutions.
• Sense of Humor – A leader can’t come across as a robot. Being personable and lighthearted helps great leaders cultivate closer relationships with their team, and boost morale.
• Empathy – It’s impossible to lead people when you can’t put yourself in their shoes.
• Strategic Minded – The best decisions are not always the most popular, the flashiest, or the most exciting. Great IT leader keep their focus on the long term and are always aligning current plans with future objectives.
• Customer Focus – Leaders must do everything possible to support their teams, but their ultimate goal is to create products and services that will appeal to customers.

If you have recently moved into a leadership role, or you’re hoping to get to that next level soon, find more resources to aid in your success by contacting TekPartners.