Yesterday we talked a bit about retention – retaining “the team,” hanging on to good people.
Today, the unemployment figure rose from 9.6% to 9.8% – any economic “recovery” remains weak. So for some, such as soon-to-be and recent graduates, the question is, “How do I get on a team?”
For others, the question is, “How do I avoid being cut from the team?”
It can be fairly straightforward, and I’m going to let you in on a secret – but only if you promise NOT TO TELL.
There is a dearth of people who can both:
- Understand the vision of business (at their specific place of business) and
- Weave that vision with the technology to make it happen.
In other words, there are most definitely some fine business minds where you work – really! – or your place of employment wouldn’t last in the market. Further, there must be some great IT folks enabling and leveraging the conduct of business on and through its technical supports. However, how many people are adept at both? A few business analysts maybe… and hopefully those elevated leaders such as your CEO/CFO/CTO/CIO/Director-class – we hope. But they don’t turn the crank – they tell others to turn the crank, and largely rely on others to identify new cranks, and to progress existing cranks.
If you’re closer to the “rubber meeting the road” – that is to say, middle management and below, look to lead in an area that is crying for de facto leaders: that area is the strategization (did I invent a word?) of technical solutions to business progressions. Even the reverse can have it’s payoffs in ROI, TOC and TtV (time to value): The strategizing of business in view of available technical resources and supports (those existing at your place of business, and those existing in the market for procurement and implementation).
You may think: “This goes on now.” Yah. And it’s too often poorly understood, inefficient, and broken – perhaps more often than not, but there’s always a degree of problems that can be avoided.
Become a leader in this realm. Qualify yourself, take suggestions to your supervisor, cast your vision to the business’ vision, qualify yourself technically (who in this millennium cannot be tech qualified to some degree?). Don’t wait for the organization to send you to school or to training.
There actually is a new program at one university of which I’m aware. With their permission, I will share some details upcoming – but first I must check with them.
However, you don’t have to wait: Look for programs that will educate you, and confirm your status, as someone who can bridge the biz-tech divide, and thus weave business and technology for ultimate outcomes and best business success. A business-technology weave – now where have I heard that before?
NP: Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus, Charles Mingus, original Impulse! vinyl LP.
