Published on January 14th, 2021 | by Sunit Nandi

5 Ways To Help Your IT Department Thrive

In the digital age, the more your Information Technology department thrives, the more your business does. This department is responsible for the hardware and software your company uses as well as the security of your information and the quality of your online presence. There are several ways you can help improve how your IT department functions including outsourcing some responsibilities and setting goals for yourself, the department and the company.

Use Managed Services

Having a full in-house IT team is not feasible for all companies and many smaller businesses are turning to Indiana managed IT services to fulfill their tech needs. These services can help you build an IT department from scratch or fill gaps in your current structure with the knowledge and experience necessary for your company to thrive. For startups and small businesses, managed IT services are a good solution to the problem of keeping up with the competition online without the space or budget for a dedicated team in-house to run cyber security, websites and more. Even large corporations can benefit from using these services because they can save on the overhead needed to run IT departments in every location, can design a plan that best fits needs and have access to better talent without increasing the payroll.

Have Updated Software

Updated software has the newest features, the latest patches and the best security features. When you are running business processes on the company’s computers, these updates mean that you data is more secure from outside actors as well as from software glitches. Updated software also means that you have the proper licensing to avoid legal trouble and can do more business in less time. It is a good idea to schedule regular updates and to set your system to automatically check for available ones when applicable.

Get Organized

Although Information Technology departments are all about the hardware and software companies need to thrive, they are also about the people and processes involved. The more organized you, your department and your team members are, the more smoothly your IT department will run. Make sure that your physical space, such as desks and office storage spaces, are well organized and free of unnecessary clutter. This includes outdated paperwork, crowded inboxes and the department lost-and-found as well as the supply closet and file cabinets. Once your physical space is less chaotic, it is time to tackle your calendar and mental space. Are there any tasks you can delegate to another team member or outsource to your IT management service? How many of your meetings can you replace with an email or online collaboration portal? Organize your schedule by putting in events you cannot change first and then prioritize what is left. Make sure to leave yourself enough of a buffer between meetings for travel times and preparation.

Practice Communication Skills

Practicing your communication skills is about more than just effectively managing your department, it is also about interacting with those in your company and in the public who you help with IT needs. Try not to use too much jargon when explaining projects and solutions so you are more easily understood, focus on good customer experience and try not to let your frustration with a problem translate into frustration with a customer, coworker or manager. This means taking the time to listen to the main point that someone is trying to get across and ignoring how that individual’s frustration is being manifest. If your manager is frustrated by a technical problem, then being defensive about who’s fault that problem is can lead to an argument sooner than to a solution.

Set Clear Goals

It is important to set clear goals with concrete deadlines to improve yourself as well as your IT department and company. When setting goals for your department or the business, it is important to include team members in the planning stages. This can help you generate goal ideas as well as pinpoint problem areas and bottlenecks which need streamlining. For example, if you want to increase productivity then you can brainstorm with your team about which tasks take the longest for the least reward and can be eliminated or automated. Once company goals are set, you can determine which department goals can help accomplish company goals and then set personal goals which will help meet team ones.

Helping your IT department thrive means making sure that it has the people, tools and tech necessary for the job as well as defining what it means to thrive with clear goals. You can organize your space and calendar to better reflect your priorities and to meet personal, department and company goals as well as place communication and delegation high up on your list.

Tags: IT department, thrive, ways

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.