Today, technology is critical to most business initiatives.  Yet, many leaders have no knowledge about how to manage IT.  It’s all too easy to blame the IT department or the CIO when technological limitations start getting in the way, but the smart leader will stop crying and listen to the Muse of IT.

The Muse were the nine goddesses in ancient mythology who inspired artists, poets, scientists, musicians, actors, and heroes.  As they worked their magic, they excited passion and action that produced great works of art, grand discoveries, superb performances; or heroic fetes.  It wouldn’t be surprising to note that leaders can be similarly inspired to produce great outcomes, take on grand challenges, or turn their vision into a reality for all.

Today’s successful business leaders need to be able to use IT to solve their problems.  Sadly, this is hard to do.  A 2011 survey on project management by PM Solutions revealed that nearly 37% of projects assessed were failing or at risk of failure.  Furthermore, the business just can’t stand the IT department.  The business feels that they are slow to respond or deliver consistently behind schedule; they deliver technology that doesn’t work or fails; and finally they communicate poorly – they don’t speak in plain terms and prefer a lot of IT jargon.

What if there was a Muse for IT that inspired leaders to conquer these “monsters” of IT? They would invoke the Muse of IT, and inspire their inner geek to learn how technology can be used as a competitive leadership weapon.  So how do you access the wisdom that the Muse of IT offers?  How does a non-technical leader become smart about technology and gain followers and achieve results?

Here are three tips for non-IT leaders who want to tap into their inner geek:

1. Root for the geeks in your organization
2. Love your geeks with nurturing leadership
3. Try some geeky stuff yourself

Next week, Part 2: Root for Your Geek.