Mistakes happen—by everyone, everywhere. They vary in size and severity, and they happen in both our personal lives and in our work lives.
When you work in IT, there are an unlimited amount of mistakes that can happen, and often times these mistakes can be prevented.
We’re breaking down some of the most common mistakes and providing some guidance on how to avoid them.
Mistake No. 1: Focusing on the case, not the champion
When your team comes up with a new solution to a problem, many managers tell them to get busy writing a business case that will help sell the idea upwards. Months can be spent painstakingly working through the business case, ensuring the data and numbers are solid and working on the angles that will convince a CIO or CFO to sign a cheque.
But we’re hearing more and more that business cases don’t seem credible. Now, we’re not suggesting that you stop doing them altogether—but, as you head into a new project or planning season, think about having your case backed by an internal champion.
This person should champion your cause and also speak to how the solution will benefit the team and/or organization. They should be willing to assume responsibility for the project if it doesn’t work out the way you’ve initially intended. Having a champion can be a quick way to get approval.
Mistake No. 2: Making the wrong hire out of fear
As a manager, you should always want to make your team the strongest, smartest, and best it can be. There can be a lot of pressure when adding to the team, and the hiring process often stems from an examination of your skills and those of your team.
A mistake we often see is managers being afraid to hire someone who is smarter or better than they might be. Egos can get in the way, and sometimes managers may feel threatened by hiring intelligent new team members.
Combat this by ensuring that more than one person makes the final hiring decision.
