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Managing techies

Guest post by: Howard Miller

Article Overview: Do you need to come from a technical background to manage technical people?

Managing techies

The answer is a very definite no!

A lot of managers will say it can't hurt, and it gives you more credibility.

It possibly could.

But it isn't necessary.

In fact, a non technical person might have a lot more success managing the techies.

How is this possible?

Managing is the key word.

But how can you establish credibility when you know nothing?!

By telling the team that they are the experts and you are there to help them in any way you can.

Then help them.

Help them by meeting with them regularly, listening to them, and responding with questions which will help them get solutions and fix their problems.

It's that simple yet that complex.

So much can get in the way.

You might find there's not enough time to meet with employees, and you have pre judgments on employees based on your past experience.



And if you do come from the same technical background of the group you are managing, you might want to stay technical.

So you try to help solve the problem and end up becoming part of the problem!

It makes sense for a manager with the technical background to want to get involved because it's familiar to them and they're good at it. That's why they were promoted in the first place!

But it's a whole other skill set to manage.

It takes personal insight and experience to realize this.

When you understand the essential skills a manager needs:

• You'll adjust priorities to spend more time with each of your employees
• You'll do a little less talking and little more listening
• You'll become an expert in asking questions to anyone to help them solve their situations.

That's powerful.

That's being technical when managing others.

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Article Tags: absenteeism, acronyms, always, asking questions, behavior, behavior assessment, Change management, coaching, colloquialisms, communications, conflict, conflict resolution, consequences, dealing with difficult people, dealing with difficult situations, difficult personalities, DiSC, do as I say not as I do, effective questions, facebook, facts, fair, fairness, focus, gen x, gen y, generational differences, glass half empty, glass half full, how to deal with difficult people, humor, leadership, listening, management, management skills, management skills for new managers, managing techies, managing technical people, miscommunication, motivation, never, new managers, objective vs subjective, opportunities, optimism, personality, powerful questions, questions, rewards, shift, sometimes, time management



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