When management discusses personnel development of technology staff, this usually drifts towards certifications and technical training. I do see value in a very few select certifications, mostly around security and project management, but focusing on non-technical areas is a better strategy.
One critical area IT staff consistently struggle with is communications, and this is one of the most beneficial areas to focus on in personnel development. Basic writing, grammar, listening, negotiation, and presentation skills provide better returns for staff and organizations than almost any certification or specialized tech training. These five dimensions alone will reap huge benefits from a project and support perspective and they can be nurtured through modest investments of your time alone. In future posts I’ll cover some creative and inexpensive ways to develop these skills, and other tips to influence them to develop.
April 20, 2009 at 11:14 am |
[...] not millions of dollars or Euros, but perhaps many fans of your work and presentations. In a previous blog, I mentioned communication skills as one of the most critical personnel development areas IT folks [...]
June 1, 2009 at 10:47 am |
Great post, Edward! When working with IT groups to help them lead people and deliver projects, I often bring up the importance of negotiating skills.
“But we’re not salespeople!” I often hear.
Let’s face it: we’re all salespeople. We all have to sell our ideas, our approaches, our value, etc. Your five dimensions are an insightful roadmap for leaders who want to develop teams that deliver.
Thanks for sharing the post!