If you work in IT, it’s likely that you feel overwhelmed by the amount of new information thrown your way every day. If you’re struggling to keep up, here are 10 tips listed by https://thepereznotes.com/ to get ahead!
1. Don’t overreact to threats or challenges
The first step is putting into perspective what threats or challenges will mean for your company. Have metrics and data about the current state of the company? Consider what might happen if things go drastically wrong during an IT emergency. Is there a plan in place for dealing with emergencies? Does your team have adequate training and experience on how to handle emergencies should they arise? If not, this is where proper planning comes into play!
2. Remember why you’re working in IT
In my opinion, the best IT advice is to remember why they’re in IT. Outside of computers, that’s not easy to do. If you’re a programmer, the most valuable tool you have is your knowledge. If you don’t use it on a daily basis, it may as well be a brick wall for you! If you work with a team of people who only talk about “leads” and “costs” and “scopes,” they won’t be as effective as a team who understands the big picture and their role in it.
3. Single snapshot
Look at all the facts, not just a single snapshot in time. The big picture might change pretty quickly if a project gets delayed or a new competitor appears on the horizon. Look at competitors’ products and how they may be used to your advantage. If you’re working on email automation, find out if their product is well suited for bulk emailing or does it lack enough features to be useful in this situation? In this case, if it’s lacking the right features, you can make your own solution to solve this problem!
4. Your budget matters, but so do other costs!
The key thing is to have input from every member of your team. Everyone should agree on budget and time estimates. Remember that the budget includes other costs, such as salaries and benefits. You may not think that makes a big difference, but it does. If you have a huge expense, but your team is working at a much faster pace than the original estimate, the extra productivity could add up to over 1000%!
5. Your IT system will have to have features in order for your business to survive
Sometimes getting behind schedule is necessary when coming up with unique features for your system. However, be realistic about your time frame and your budget. Don’t let your team feel like they’re always behind schedule, but make sure you have a solid plan in place that will allow them to improve their systems.
6. Sometimes you’ll have to outsource certain tasks
You can increase your productivity by bringing outside help onto your team. Outsourcing doesn’t mean that the work will be sub-standard, it just means bringing different skills and experiences to the table. For example, if you’re dealing with an enterprise customer, you may need someone with more sales experience to talk about pricing so that the sales team can focus on creating more leads and creating deals for the business. If you’re working on an in-house project, look for people who have strong IT skills, but are also able to think outside the box. This additional input will help your team become more efficient!
7. Be realistic about your deadlines
Never promise more than you can deliver. If you make this mistake, be sure to apologize and explain what happened. The best way to get around this problem is to rely on established processes and set milestones for yourself. This way, if you deliver slightly less data than expected (because of some unexpected complication), it won’t be a deal breaker for your team or your customer!
8. Don’t underestimate the importance of your IT systems to your business
If you want to keep your business running smoothly, look at outsourcing companies that can help you create and maintain all the systems you need. It’s wise to look for companies that offer a range of products and services and that prioritize customer satisfaction, rather than focusing on cutting costs. You don’t want to deal with a company that makes promises it can’t keep, only to leave you scrambling when the deadline comes around.
9. Don’t get overwhelmed by new technology!
Technology is constantly changing, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the new stuff coming out every day. There’s a lot of stuff you don’t need to know to be able to do your job effectively and efficiently. As long as you can prove that your team values the needs of the business, your company will be fine!
10. Think about an upgrade!
If you’re dealing with older technology, like legacy systems, it may be time for an upgrade. Not only does this mean upgrading hardware and software, but it also means changing how your team operates. If you decide to go through with this process, make sure everyone is on the same page and understands what is going on with the upgrade.
