MIS Personnel 
References Training & Skills Case
February 17, 1992
Balance IS know-how with professional polish
MANAGING YOUR CAREER
by Nancy Thompson
Technical expertise isn't really enough anymore. These
days, horizons for information systems professionals are
broader, and so are employer expectations. Working closely with
professionals in a variety of departments often with little
supervision, getting involved in process redesign efforts and
supporting critical business initiatives, IS staffers need a
well developed set of personal and professional skills to
complement their technical know-how.
Self-motivation.
If you don't manage your career, then time,
chance and other people will. So commit yourself to identifying,
learning and practicing skills such as positive thinking, stress
reduction and an "I know I can" attitude.
How to acquire it:
Take a seminar, listen to tapes, read
books and articles.
Watch how other people do and don't take responsibility,
and notice the results. Start each day with some type of
motivational activity, such as positive reinforcements or
vocalization, and tell yourself that you will be a success.
Organization.
Organize your priorities, time, space, computer,
resources, ideas and the work itself. No matter how brilliant
you are, looking disorganized always works against you.
How to acquire it:
Look into taking courses to determine
which methods of organization fit your style and goals. For
organization, examine options at office supply stores. You may
find a desktop organizer for your personal computer would be
useful, or perhaps a Daytimer from Time Systems, Inc. in Phoenix
may better meet your needs.
Time management.
Deadlines are critical in IS. Meeting
deadlines is only half the battle: You also need to learn how to
set them. If you feel from the outset that a deadline is
unrealistic, let your manager know up front and help establish a
goal-by-goal time frame.
How to acquire it:
Attend a time management workshop to
find out good time managers' techniques. On a project level,
track your progress, plan for contingencies, show how to resolve
issues and deal with impact events.
Business writing skill.
A good, clear writing style is a real
plus in the business world, especially as it becomes harder to
find people with effective writing skills.
Good writing starts with clear thinking. So before you
start typing, make sure you know what action you want the reader
to take and establish a vocabulary of precise words. Make sure
your sentences are complete and contain only one meaning, and
construct paragraphs that support your key ideas. It's also
important to that your spelling and punctuation are correct.
How to acquire it:
If you need a little help, keep William
Strunk Jr. and E. B. White's Elements of Style and Charles T.
Brusaw's Business Writer's Handbook on hand. Always have your
dictionary and thesaurus nearby. If you need more guidance,
local community colleges and universities offer courses,
seminars and workshops specifically on business writing.
Public speaking ability.
In today's marketplace, it's vital to
be able to make formal presentations, communicate with business
people all the way up to the company president and deal
successfully with users. There is a variety of methods and
materials for presenting information ranging from informal
conversations to a PC slide show.
How to acquire it:
Attend meetings of local chapters of
Toastmasters, an international organization of local chapters
that develop and practice public speaking skills. You could also
take a course on effective communication designed to help
professionals express themselves more effectively in front of
groups, within groups and one on one. If possible, videotape
your next demonstration to watch other presenters and
practice.
Interpersonal skill / team spirit.
An employer always likes to
see an employee earning the respect of his coworkers. If you can
lead by example and participation, you can probably bring a team
together to successfully complete any project.
How to acquire it:
Take a team-building seminar, read about
group dynamics and get to know co-workers.
Industry astuteness.
Most IS professionals keep up only with
their perceived niche in the marketplace.
How to acquire it:
Be a source of information for your
manager by staying current through publications you subscribe to
and the professional organizations you belong to.
Confidence.
Project or portray confidence with good eye contact
and a firm handshake. A friendly, poised professional style
always captures the attention of management and prospective
employers.
How to acquire it:
Write a list of your accomplishments and
take strength in the knowledge of your proven successes. Learn
from your mistakes, not looking back but forward, knowing that
the next time you get in that situation, you confidently know
how to succeed. While it's vital to continually sharpen your
technical skills, support your career goals by increasing your
business competence. No matter what direction your career takes,
business ability is essential.
Thompson is staffing specialist coordinator at Cap Gemini
America in Atlanta.
IS managers and corporate hiring managers: if you have a career
issue you'd like to write about, please fax your idea to Kelly
Dwyer, (508) 875-8931.
MIS Personnel
References Training & Skills Case