3 Must-Have Qualities of a Senior Executive in 2020

Two qualities top the list of every business’s requirements when recruiting a senior information technology executive: technical knowledge and a track record of building and maintaining effective information technology systems. To that list, we might also add project management skills and the ability to envision technical solutions for business problems.

These are necessary qualities for an effective executive in any technical field. But they aren’t sufficient; less tangible qualities also mark a senior executive as a highly desirable hire.

In this article, we look at three qualities that you should be looking for when hiring your next senior information technology executive.

Strategic Planning and Vision

IT executives once had a reputation for conservatism. They are tasked with ensuring that a business’s critical systems are always available and accessible. Downtime costs money, and that means change is a risk. 

But, as technology has become more pervasive, the evolution of a business’s IT systems has strategic implications. It’s not enough to ensure that all the systems work: they must be continuously evolved to take advantage of new opportunities for streamlining, automation, and innovation.

Today, the most in-demand technological executives are those with a gift for strategic planning and the vision to anticipate the changes technology will bring to the market and the business.

A Track Record of Collaboration

IT impacts every area of a business, and IT leaders exert influence in departments far beyond their immediate area of responsibility. They take the lead on cybersecurity across the organization. They build and manage the infrastructure that supports applications and services the business depends on. They work closely with other executives and stakeholders to implement new IT systems. All of this requires excellent communication skills, the ability to empathize with the needs of other executives and departments, and a commitment to collaboration.

Furthermore, senior tech leaders depend on buy-in and support from other senior executives, many of whom may have conflicting priorities and alternative visions of how to achieve the business’s strategic goals. Only executives with excellent communication and collaboration skills can reliably garner the support necessary to bring everyone together on big and potentially disruptive projects.

Team-Building Expertise

An executive is only as effective as their team. The best senior executives understand this and work to build highly skilled teams with the ability to implement technical solutions to business problems.

In 2020, there is fierce competition in the technology recruitment market. There are fewer skilled employees than job opportunities, which makes for a candidates’ market. The best IT professionals can choose where to go, and the reputation of the executive they will work under influences their decision. If you’re recruiting a senior IT executive, finding someone with a track record of team-building excellence who is well regarded in the industry should be a priority.

TD Madison can help your business to recruit senior information technology executives with vision, empathy, and proven team-building and management expertise. Contact an IT executive recruitment professional today for a free initial consultation.