Leading Technical Professionals

1-day Workshop

Course Description

It isn’t the case that “If you can manage one thing, you can manage anything” – not where technology is concerned. Technology professionals (e.g., programmers, engineers, scientists, database specialists) are a special breed: often preferring to work alone, unique in their love of problem-solving and their devotion to the technology they sustain.  Leading these individuals presents new challenges for managers who need to understand the strengths and preferences of those they lead, and to be prepared to shore up their weaker points.

This course enables you to:

• organize and sustain successful teamwork on technical teams

• communicate assignments effectively to technical professionals

• help technical professionals communicate with less technical people (e.g., internal and external customers, suppliers) 

• provide the resources they need to do their jobs well (“space” and time among them)

• help objective, logical thinkers live with ambiguity that is often the day-to-day reality in organizations

Who should attend?

• Managers

• Supervisors

• Technical Leads

• Project Managers

• Project Leaders

• Prospective Managers and Leaders

• Human Resources professionals who serve technology groups

Instructor: Susan de la Vergne

Course Content

What’s Unique About Techies and Techie Jobs

Common characteristics often found in successful techies

Innovation, creativity and techie jobs

Outlook on change and the challenges of change management

The role of “power” in a techie organization

Navigating ambiguity with professionals who prefer “black and white”

The Changing Techie Management Model

No more “glass house”:  Technology and techies are everywhere!

The effects of off-shoring and outsourcing

This global, horizontal industry: Where’s it all heading?

Differences Between Leading and Managing in a Tech Environment

Leading without authority 

Effective Communications

Helping techies connect with customers and “the business”

Interacting with non-technical clients and users

Focusing on content over form

Documentation for the writing-averse

Performance Management - Considerations Unique to a Tech Environment

Effective rewards that make techies feel genuinely appreciated

Defining roles and assignments

Establishing rapport

Setting quality objectives

Peer reviews – making them successful

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