| Let's face it, when most people think of IT | | | | explain the value of your work to others within the |
| professionals, the image that comes to mind is the | | | | company. |
| guy or girl with the glasses huddled behind a myriad | | | | These other department heads usually have strong |
| of computer monitors, incapable of communicating | | | | communication skills. While most MBA programs are |
| with anyone other than their keyboard | | | | currently addressing communication skills in their |
| In today's competitive IT marketplace, this person | | | | programs, for the IT professionals that haven't had |
| also is exactly the type that no employer wants to | | | | the training, the lack of these skills is detrimental to |
| bring on board and will, in fact, avoid at all costs. | | | | job security and advancement opportunities. |
| Strong communication skills are one of the most | | | | If you're reading this article and can identify with any |
| important traits employers are looking for either | | | | of the situations mentioned or are already considering |
| within the corporate environment or in consulting | | | | spending some time to fine-tune and polish your |
| projects. In many cases, IT professionals are the | | | | communication skills, there are many tools available to |
| only ones that really know exactly what they're | | | | you in the marketplace. It would be to your benefit |
| doing, if they can't communicate well with | | | | to see whether or not your current employer offers |
| co-workers, upper management and even | | | | and will pay for these types of classes. If not and |
| prospective employers, the extent of their technical | | | | you realize the importance of strong communication |
| expertise is of no consequence and consequently | | | | skills in your future success, you're going to have to |
| rendered useless. | | | | find your own. |
| If you're one of those people who are immediately | | | | An example of such a program is "People Skills for |
| felt the hair rise on the back of your neck when you | | | | Techs" offered by Foster Success. This is a course |
| read the introduction above, you're probably putting | | | | that focuses on developing listening skills and |
| together a list in your mind of all the reasons you | | | | providing feedback to upper management. There are |
| don't believe that strong communication skills are | | | | many online courses and seminars available that have |
| important in the IT industry. In response, I'd like to | | | | been designed specifically with IT professonals in |
| challenge you to jot down a list of all the people you | | | | mind. A quick search on the Internet should help you |
| know who have recently been promoted within the | | | | find something in your area. If you're not interested |
| IT industry. Odds are, in 90% of the cases, you will | | | | or can't find a particular seminar that appeals to you, |
| admit that those people were not the ones that had | | | | however, you may consider hiring a coach or finding |
| the best technical skills. | | | | a mentor. There are a myriad of companies and |
| In fact, I'd be willing to bet that as you've watched | | | | independent personal coaches available to help you |
| people around you move up within your organization, | | | | work on your skills in a more private and individual |
| you've made the comment, "I'm more qualified than | | | | setting. These programs, however, usually tend to be |
| he/she is." Be honest, the majority of people who | | | | a little pricey. Mentors, as opposed to coaches, are |
| choose IT careers are more comfortable sitting in a | | | | usually easy to find and often won't cost you more |
| cube or office with a piece of hardware than they | | | | than a lunch, drink, or cup of coffee. |
| are sitting in a room of people. It's one of the | | | | Take a look at your colleagues and take a few |
| reasons you were drawn to and probably have been | | | | minutes to rank their communication skills. If you find |
| successful in this industry in the first place and it's | | | | someone that seems to have it all together, arrange |
| probably going to be the reason you continue to | | | | for an opportunity to talk to him or her about it. In |
| watch others pass you by for promotions, | | | | most corporate environments, your co-workers are |
| management positions and in some cases, even | | | | happy to help. If you have trouble finding someone |
| independent consulting projects. | | | | within your own department, however, don't be |
| The emphasis on strong communication skills for IT | | | | afraid to step outside your box. Any one in sales, for |
| professionals has increased dramatically as the field | | | | example, is usually more than willing to share their |
| from which employers have to choose from | | | | communication secrets and in many cases, will be |
| continues to showcase outstanding technical | | | | willing to trade information. |
| expertise. Technology professionals, however, are no | | | | In addition to the suggestions above, we strongly |
| longer being relagated to the background. In many | | | | suggest that you expose yourself to as many other |
| cases, their recommendations and concepts are | | | | tools as you can. The easiest way to do this is by |
| having a direct and effective impact on overall | | | | picking up a few of the excellent books that are |
| corporate strategies. Consequently, if you don't have | | | | available today. Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits |
| strong communication skills, you might get a job but | | | | of Highly Effective People is a must for every |
| you'll probably be stuck in it for a long, long time. | | | | reading list. Another excellent title is Secrets of a |
| While the stereotype of a techie, such as the one | | | | CEO Coach: Your Personal Training Guide to Thinking |
| described above, is often over exergerated, it is | | | | like a Leader and Acting Like a CEO by D.A. Benton. |
| something that you will have to be able to overcome | | | | As you're reading, consider how you can incorporate |
| or disprove either in your current position or perhaps | | | | the techniques into your own personal situation. |
| in an interview or bidding process. If your personality | | | | The bottom line is that quite simply, despite the level |
| tests return results like introvert, reserved, or | | | | of your technical expertise, you will not be able to |
| analytical, odds are you've got a few obstacles to | | | | compete with someone else who is actually able to |
| overcome. In many projects, you will be asked to | | | | communicate its importance. |