June 19, 2020
Today, businesses of all kinds rely on information technology. Without it, those businesses would simply come to an abrupt stop. The health care industry is no exception as the reliance on technology is present is every aspect of patient care and supportive administrative functions. Information technology is a vast field, with varying responsibilities and specialties, and as technologies develop, so too does the requirement for necessary skills to implement and maintain various technology assets. With so much nuance and so much at stake, it’s important for businesses to find the right person for the right job. But in many cases, the right job requires multiple individuals, and teams as a rule benefit from the appropriate leadership.
Enter the technical team lead. In general, the technical team lead is responsible for overseeing a team of personnel focused on IT. From software development, to hardware installation, to other engineering tasks, the lead is both a technician and a capable leader. Depending on the organization, the responsibilities for the technical team lead will vary, but might include all or some of the following:
Technical Team Lead Job Responsibilities:
Oversee team of IT personnel
Hire and train team members
Collaborate with internal teams to identify business needs and strategies
Possess broad understanding of business operations and collect end user requirements
Collaborate with end user and tech teams to identify and mitigate issues
Create goals and evaluate team performance
Implement new applications and technologies
Communicate project status
Define project goals
Possess broad understanding of third-party applications and underlying technology
Depending on an organization’s size, industry, and goals, the technical team lead job description will fluctuate, but there are certain steps one can take to thrive in any such technical team lead role.
1. Master the Art of Communication
Good leadership hinges on the ability to communicate effectively. Communication is a learned skill just like anything else, and like any skill, it needs to be practiced and honed regularly. Consider taking leadership training classes, which some organizations will provide internally. In these sessions, you’ll learn the specific skills associated with proper communication. Communication isn’t only about speaking clearly. It’s about listening, influencing, delegating, managing, and so much more.
2. Don’t be the Only Leader
It’s a common misconception that because a team looks to its lead for support that it’s the only place they can find leadership. Team leads don’t just delegate tasks. They foster an environment where new leaders can grow. Identify the leaders within your team, and let them know you see them that way. Most leaders are built over time, and today’s team leads have the power to mold the leaders of tomorrow.
3. Stay Involved
When a team leader stays involved in the day-to-day tasks, it can help to fight off disconnect between tech strategies and implementation. Whether this means taking part in the same tasks as team members or setting up a system of helpful check-ins and reports is up to the lead, but the goal is to be in-tune enough that you can answer “the whys.”