IT leadership alchemy

The practical, hands-on guide to IT leadership!

• Focuses on the key IT management competencies identified by a world-class panel of IT and business leaders: awareness, performance improvement, and transformation.
• Proven techniques for deepening your relationships with business customers and technical staff.
• Real examples and practical resources -- including easy-to-use templates, checklists, assessments, and simulations.

Todays IT leaders must manage unprecedented rates of change and growth in a radically new and extraordinarily complex environment. Drawing on the insights of a world-class panel of IT and business leaders, Leadership Alchemy identifies the core relationship management skills that underlie every facet of successful IT management. Then, through practical templates, checklists, assessment tools, and simulations, this book shows IT managers exactly how to strengthen, deepen, and leverage those skills. From recruiting to retention, peer management to project management, successful IT executives are, above all, relationship managers. This book shows IT managers exactly how to establish more successful and productive relationships with business clients, executive management, technical professionals, and other important stakeholders. The authors organize the key drivers of IT management success into three areas of core competency: awareness, performance improvement, and transformation. Next, using realistic examples and tools proven at the worlds leading corporations and public sector organizations, they demonstrate exactly how to enhance your effectiveness in all three areas.

Lou Russell is CEO of Russell Martin & Associates, a consulting and training company focused on improving planning, process and performance in information technology organizations. She has consulted with Fortune 1000 companies including 3M, Ameritech, CINergy, Commonwealth Edison, Eli Lilly, Morgan Stanley, Pearson, and Nike, and with colleges such as Texas A&M. Her books include The Accelerated Learning Fieldbook and Project Managing for Trainers. Jeff Feldman is a trainer, speaker, and coach with extensive experience in designing and delivering creative, energizing personal development and human interaction training. He founded his own company, Eagles View Enterprises in 1993 after serving for five years on the faculty at Penn State University. His clients range from 3M, IBM, and Pizza Hut International to colleges, universities, and public agencies throughout the U.S.

Foreword. Preface. 1. The Value of Technical Leadership. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. What is Leadership? Exercise: Zoning in on Competencies. Alchemy: Turning Common Into Precious. Exercise: Ranking Your Strengths. Assessing Your IT Leadership Competencies. Navigating This Book. Summary. 2. Leader Self-Alignment. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. Being Leadership. Leadership Values, Purpose, and Vision. Exercise: Epitaph of a Leader. Exercise: Defining Leadership Purpose. Leader Self-Awareness. Exercise: The Three-Person Feedback Challenge. Creating Your Leadership Brand. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 3. Resiliency. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. Resiliency in Our World of Permanent White Water. Kayakers' Rules for Navigating Permanent White Water. Pack Your Attitude. Exercise: The Winning Interpretation. Don't Look Where You Don't Want to Go. Exercise: A Vision for the Road Ahead. Flex with the Flow. Manage the Mess. Exercise: Imagine the Following Scenario . Exercise: Handling Crises. It's No Fun if You Don't Get Wet. Exercise: Challenge Equals Opportunity. Eddy Out. Exercise: Eddy Out. Summary. Lesson Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 4. Interpersonal and Team Skills. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. Interpersonal Skills for Effective Leadership. Essential Factors of Strong Relationships. Exercise: Relational Effectiveness. Exploring Trust. Exercise: Trust Assessment. Exercise: The Trust Factor. Managing Conflict. Exercise: Assess Your Conflict Approach. Interpersonal and Team Effectiveness in a World of Difference. Tuning in to Operational Differences. Valuing Operational Differences. Respecting Operational Differences. Exercise: Valuing Differences. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 5. Communication Skills. Agenda. Communication Intentions. Communication Basics. Messages. Channels. Interference. Exercise: Feedback Skills. Leadership and Communication. Presentation Skills. Action Plan/Journaling. 6. Coaching. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. What Is Coaching? Coaching Language. Beginning the Exploration. Writing Meaningful Goals. Leveraging Assessments. Giving Respectful Feedback. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 7. Customer Orientation. Interview Customers. Group and Meeting Techniques. Exercise: Productivity Check. Exercise: Admire the Enemy. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journzaling. 8. Strategic Business Acumen. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. Strategy 5 Clear Vision. Planning: Scenario, Strategic, and Contingency. Influencing: Selling Ideas. Receptive Behaviors. Expressive Behaviors. Indirect Influencing Behaviors. Conflict Resolution. Systemic Thinking for Problem Solving. Building Intensional Networks. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 9. Project Leadership. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. What Is a Project? What Role Does the Leader Play? Dare to Properly Manage Resources: Define, Plan, Manage, and Review. Define: Creating a Project Charter. Example: A Project Management Case to Think About. Example: Risk Assessment. Exercise: Define Deliverables. Plan: Creating a Project Plan. Project Management Trends. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 10. Creating and Actualizing Vision. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. Creating Common Terminology. Thoughts on Vision. The Power of Vision. Vision in an Unpredictable World. Vision Creation. Vision Alignment. Vision Enrollment. Vision Actualization. Leader as Keeper of the Vision. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 11. The Journey to Change. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. The Challenge of Change. Transition: The Human Process of Change. Understanding Organizational Change. Leading Change. Summary. Lessons Learned. Action Plan/Journaling. 12. A Plan for Action. Opportunities for Growth. Agenda. Review the Personal Assessment. Initiate a 360-Degree Process. Identify Opportunities and Needs. Build a Personal Action Plan. Beware of the Neutral Zone. The Journey Begins. Bibliography. Index.