Businesses are looking to expand their technological prowess, with global IT spend expected to hit a record-high $4.2 trillion this year.
For IT managers, this means you can expect tons of new projects and some new hires along with them! As exciting as the prospect may seem, it’s important to keep your head on straight and avoid some common mistakes that can snowball quickly.
Ready to learn more? Then keep reading for a brief but in-depth look at the biggest mistakes with IT management!
1. Setting Unrealistic Project Boundaries
Taking on an exciting new project is always fun. But if you’re not thoughtful before accepting the challenge, it could land you and your team in a ton of hot water with management.
Always take your time and think through the specifications of a new project. And if you do plan to take it on, make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to complete the task and complete it to the best of your team’s abilities.
2. Taking on Too Much Work Yourself
This is one of the biggest issues in management, period. Your team is there for a reason. Don’t be afraid to use them and lean on them for help.
Find out the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and learn to delegate accordingly.
3. Hiring the Wrong People
The hiring process can be arduous and tedious, to say the least. However, rushing through it won’t do your company any favors.
When hiring new team members, take your time to thoroughly assess their skills. Provide a quick test they can complete.
Likewise, look for new hires who excel at tomorrow’s tasks already.
4. Ignoring Ongoing Education
Aside from maybe the medical field, IT is one of the fastest-changing industries. As a result, the training you last received could already be out of date.
You and your team should always strive to keep learning as often as possible. There are plenty of easy and affordable courses you can take to learn about the latest in service management services, most of which you should be able to write off as a business expense.
5. Neglecting Compliance Regulations
One of the most common IT issues comes from a lack of business oversight. While you might feel separate from the rest of the company, the work that you and your team do still very much matters.
If you’re not following industry-regulated guidelines, even the smallest of issues could lead to a disaster.
There’s a lot to keep up with, too, so make sure you’re on top of things for your specific industry.
6. Deploying Before Testing
Whether you’re building a new feature for your business’ website or you’re improving digital security server-side, IT projects often look great up until the last second, only to crash as soon as they’re put to use.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the IT field, remember to test your work at every stage of the process.
This is also a great reason why hiring designated quality assurance team members are important, too. QA devs know what to look for and how to test properly.
Don’t Make These Frustrating Mistakes With IT Management
Most of these mistakes with IT management are easy to avoid. Remember to take your time and be thorough, whether you’re hiring new team members or taking on a new project.
For more info on how you can grow your team and develop better IT skills, be sure to check out the rest of our tech blog!