To be a vital IT team member, balance technical expertise, soft skills, and proactive initiative. Specialize in your IT domain, stay updated, and offer solutions to problems. Communicate clearly, excel in teamwork and problem-solving, and manage time efficiently. Take initiative by identifying opportunities, sharing knowledge, and networking across departments. Be reliable, positive, and open to feedback. Champion your team's success, celebrating achievements and advocating for their needs. This blend of skills and attitude positions you as an invaluable asset, contributing to a collaborative and successful IT environment.

As a senior leader in technology, it’s crucial to always stay on top of new technologies. With learning now at our fingertips, it’s there really is no excuse to not stay up on new skills. I lead a team of engineers so in order for me to be able to continue to lead them, I have to also keep my skills fresh. With tools like LikedIn Learning, Coursera and Udemy, we have a wealth of learning available for us. When the MetaVerse became the big biz word, I took courses for me to understand it at a high level and now with things like Generative AI, it’s important to stay relevant with the hot skills.

1. Build strong relationships within the team: Collaborate and foster strong relationships with your teammates. Be supportive, respectful, and adaptable. Offer assistance when needed, share knowledge, and contribute positively to a healthy team dynamic. 2. Develop a deep understanding of the team's objectives and goals: Take the time to understand the purpose and goals of your IT team. This will allow you to align your efforts with the team's needs and contribute more effectively. 3. Be proactive and take initiative: Don't wait for tasks to be assigned to you. Take the initiative to identify and address potential issues, propose solutions, and suggest improvements within your team's workflow.

Communication is one of the key factors for success. The IT member has to communicate properly and clearly with other members and has to scale the technical terms used based on the technical skills of the other party.

I love to take the opportunity to be proactive when there are gaps in an area that needs exploring and I encourage my team members to do the same. I love being what I call being proactive versus reactive. For example, how are we using innovation to be forward thinking. Is your organization “future ready”? This means thinking ahead about what we can and should be doing to stay ahead of or up to date with where the industry is going versus waiting until something is broken or out of support. Finding ways to position yourself as a SME in an area that lacks it is a good way remain a critical resource on a team.

As a senior leader, 70% of my time is spent supporting my team. My role is more of the strategic thinker as a senior leader while they are more of the doers. You are only as strong as your team so it’s critical to provide them the support they need to be successful. That includes professionally, technically and also mentally. Technology delivery can often be a stressful job so something as simple as asking your team members how they are doing, thanking them for all they do, and making sure they have work life balance can go a long way. It earns trust and positions you as a leader.