How Your Strengths Apply to Health IT
As far as I’m concerned, everyone who works for me is more knowledgeable than I am, but my unique strengths and experiences allow me to help them function as a team to achieve great things for our organization, even though I am not traditionally trained in IT or healthcare.
This is a plea to women like me, who can — and probably do — lead, but don’t show up in audiences made up of technology leaders.
We need you. We need the way you think, the way you organize. Are you a project manager? Can you see the forest as well as the trees? Are you organized? Can you help someone else get organized? Can you trust your team members but provide support to them along the way? Do you know how to hire slowly and carefully and how to fire fast? Are you honest, hardworking and ethical? Can you tell a good story? Can you be kind and respectful while being firm? Can you be direct while being respectful?
READ MORE: Technological upgrades and grants support better community care.
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then go for that IT leadership role!
What’s the first step? Take advantage of opportunities offered to you, regardless of specific background and training. I left education for IT because the organization that approached me liked the way that I think. I approached the job that the company created for me in my own way, and we discovered that my expertise was a great fit.
Yes, I knew a few things about IT. But as an educator, I knew a lot about people, and that’s what it took to bring together disparate personalities to accomplish goals and help close sales.
What do you have to lose? Even if you try and fail, you’ll learn something about the industry and about yourself — and perhaps add a few new connections to your network.
I hope to see you at the next CDW SummIT.