The Leadership Muse tells us how to listen to the song that sings of the sweet success of technology efforts.  This song surprising benefits to the leader with a discerning ear.  It is a song each leader must learn and adapt for his or her particular circumstances, always mindful of how mastering the art of IT can bring tremendous business success.

Partner with your IT leadership in order to tap into the power of mutual wins.

Susan Cramm, in her book 8 Things We Hate About IT: How to Move Beyond the Frustrations to Form a New Partnership with IT, promises that there is no way out.  “Business leaders”, she says, “need to become smarter about how to lead with technology and how to work with IT.”  Partners don’t blame each other for things that go wrong.  They find ways to work together and help each other out.  The successful leader will cheer for her IT organization and they will both emerge victorious.

Successful partnerships require successful relationships.  Oh, we know how to do this in our personal lives (mostly).  But what does this mean in our professional lives?  Well, the same thing.  Listen to each other, care about each other, celebrate your mutual success, and do no harm to each other.

Successful execution of IT projects is important for organizations therefore it must be important to leaders. 

“Indeed, a characteristic of IT-savvy firms is that IT is at the heart of highly effective management”, according to Peter Weill and Jeanne W. Ross in IT Savvy: What Top Executives Must Know to Go from Pain to Gain. Leaders who want to transform their business will recognize how key IT is to that.  They will not abdicate responsibility to the Chief Information Officer – they will be accountable themselves.

This success is not like “hitting the lottery” – it’s not based on the random good luck of a project gone well.  It is the sustained commitment to the attention and intention of transformational IT efforts delivered over a period of time.

IT, if used strategically can work magic in your organizations you lead. 

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

– Arthur C. Clarke, English Science Fiction Writer

 The right kind of inspiration can give you the ability to make the impossible – possible.  Leaders who develop good relationships with IT and understand the business value that it can deliver will look like magicians to the uninspired outside observer.

Next week: Part 3. Love Your Geeks (with nurturing leadership).