7 common mistakes new tech leaders need to avoid

Technology leaders are responsible for sharing IT strategies and visions that support their organizations’ goals. It is also crucial that they have a budget that allows them to implement such decisions and make them fully actionable. Technology is significantly transforming and improving business processes, from task automation to advances to improve time-consuming activities.

Unfortunately, technology leaders make numerous mistakes that can lead to high turnover rates and negatively impact revenue generation. Some include underestimating the political nature and implications of their role and trying to implement too many changes at once. Much of these mistakes are due to bad habits, stress, poor preparation, and internal and external pressures. Here are some of the most common mistakes that stumble new technology leaders:

Also see: 6 mistakes rookie leaders make that can cause them to fail

1. Trying to implement too many changes too quickly

Innovation and change are among the top tasks of technology leaders. These professionals are recognized as the leading transformators of business strategy and technology initiatives. Consequently, this can put too much pressure on new technology leaders and lead to drastic changes. New technology leaders are tempted to make too many changes, often leading to potential challenges. In general, business organizations can only accommodate a certain amount of change at a time. Therefore, new technology leaders need to set realistic expectations for eventual success.

2. Use of inaccurate and unreliable data sets

New technology leaders should learn to recognize and avoid faulty data sets as early as possible. This is because bad records produce inaccurate results in the output of the final algorithm. New technology leaders should do everything possible to ensure that the right parameters are defined and reliable data is presented. Finally, launching their technology initiatives with inaccurate data can lead to misalignment of goals and objectives, leading to a multitude of decision-making and implementation challenges.

3. Poor communication

How technology leaders communicate with their teams can make or break a project implementation process. Executives can choose to share in person or electronically. If you’re a new technical lead, remember that the information that’s clear from your point of view doesn’t mean it’s the same for the entire team. Along with precise details, you should provide specific communication guidelines that your team will accept. Take the time to establish your best practices, but remember that these should only be about mutual understanding and you cannot force them on the rest of the team. Fortunately, the technology industry has cutting-edge and practical tools, including project management tools and instant messengers, to improve corporate communications.

4. Implement technology without a clear goal

So how will the new technology help improve your company’s day-to-day operations and productivity? Most new technology leaders begin piloting and implementing new technologies without a clear goal or vision. Note that without a clear view of the expected results, you will get stuck in the theoretical phase. New technologies and strategies need to be modeled to increase business productivity, generate revenue and solve real business problems.

See also: Become a better leader by improving your communication skills

5. Fear of letting people go

In their first 100 days, IT executives may have a hard time keeping the house clean and go to great lengths to keep everyone on the payroll. They believe that no employer deserves to be fired, but in some cases having to fire some people is very important. Understandably, leaders want to make a great first impression and maintain the status quo with the team. That’s why they don’t want firing people to be one of their first steps. New technology leaders should take the time to assess the existing team, identify any toxic personalities that are hampering the company’s productivity, and let them go. This is one of your most important tasks as a leader. Ignoring it for too long can make the problem worse.

6. Relying on technology as the ultimate problem solver

Contrary to popular belief, technology cannot solve all organizational problems. Technology should be implemented as an effective way to serve you, not the other way around. As such, technology leaders must remain vigilant to ensure everything is flowing and working as it should. Start slow and don’t ignore anything as people have different levels of understanding and retention of information.

7. Lack of early access to corporate culture

If you’re a technology leader, you’ve probably come across the quote “culture eats strategy for breakfast” by Peter Drucker, a renowned management guru. However, this is not always the case. One of the most common mistakes made by new technology leaders is the failure to analyze and understand the culture and structure of their organization. While most new leaders are all in their 100-day plan, the fact is that the pace of composition and method of business technology will vary from company to company. They should therefore take the time to assess their teams, peers, and the overall organizational structure and culture before resorting to an overly aggressive approach. After all, organizations win when they have the best, most connected teams.

With this in mind, understanding your organizational culture early on will help new technology leaders know when and how to adapt and implement changes to remain effective in the future. While there are multiple leadership styles, your organizational culture will determine what works best.

See also: 4 things the new leader of an organization should do right away

From trying to fly and jump alone without looking, there are numerous mistakes new technology leaders should avoid. They should understand that authentic and effective leadership goes beyond giving directions and expecting things to happen. Technology leadership is about setting clear, achievable goals, being open to challenges and new ideas, investing in training, providing enough tools and resources, and encouraging teamwork.