Changing IT Culture

Approximately 6 weeks ago, my VP counterpart left the company... that's right, he quit. He did this on the first day of our boss' (the COO) vacation. He also had the nerve to offer to help the company as a consultant in a transition for a large amount of money. To say the least, the COO and CEO were neither too happy about it. They decided to have him leave immediately rather than serve out the two week's notice. Fair enough I think. He was unfortunately one of the last victims of a poisonous work culture.


Relationships
Now this VP, we'll call him John, had some challenges at work. He lacked in essential leadership areas like delegation, accountability, and decision-making. He and the COO just didn't seem to have a good working relationship. Without that, no one can succeed. Something had to give.

If there's anything you should take away from my posts it is that relationships are key to growth. They, alone, can determine the success or failure of your career. Now I don't mean kissing up to the boss or putting on some fake smile and greeting everyone at the office. What I mean is a working relationship. You have to know your audience. Who are you talking to? How do they learn without feeling belittled? How do you show the right amount of compassion balanced with an appropriate air of confidence? These are questions I constantly consider when having conversations with co-workers... especially the boss. It's up to you to change the way you communicate to be most effective with your audience, not the other way around. As you do this, your audience will come to adapt how they communicate with you. And thus, a healthy, respectable working relationship will be made.

What Is IT Culture?
Culture is a word that is thrown around to mean many things. I like to think of it as a working atmosphere that, through honest healthy relationships and respect for the individual contributors, fosters unimaginable ingenuity and satisfaction. The question is, how do you create that? What I've come to learn is, you don't. It is created through the smallest of acts. Treating each other with respect and a commitment to partnership. Accepting a differing opinion when the consequences are small. Supporting the people in their quest to maintain a healthy work/life balance. And just as importantly, setting clear, attainable, but challenging expectations and goals to be achieved. At the end of the day, we are a work force. We will accomplish the mission. But there is nothing more frustrating or distracting to a team than an unclear target when so much momentum is ready to fire.

My Challenge
And so here I sit... typing this blog. Mulling over all of the teachings I've received from mentors over the years. Reaching for that golden arrow... that silver bullet that will put everything right in my IT organization. It is mine now I suppose. Has been for about six weeks. Or rather, it's my responsibility, and I have authority to enforce my will if I so desire. Right... we all know how something like that would go. I would be next in line out the door. And, sorry, but that just ain't me.

No. There's not a silver bullet. As the saying goes "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon." But I am definitely in it for the long haul. I know I can do this. I know it will be hard. But when it's all over (of course it never really is, is it?), our organization will be stronger and more satisfied with the work they've accomplished in their professions.