Technical Advice

"Career Transitions: How Aspiring IT Leaders Can Prepare Now"

2025-03-09

Image credit: Freepik

Moving from a hands-on IT role to a leadership position is both exciting and daunting. Here’s how to start preparing—before you’re offered the job.

Develop “Soft” Skills

Great IT leaders are great communicators:

• Practice explaining technical issues to non-technical colleagues.
• Get comfortable presenting, even in small groups.

Understand the Business

Show you care about the “why” behind IT decisions:

• Volunteer for cross-department projects.
• Attend business meetings.
• Learn the language of finance and risk.

Build a Network

• Seek out mentors—inside and outside IT.
• Join leadership forums and professional bodies (like the BCS or ISACA).

Take on Leadership Tasks

• Ask to run a project, lead a stand-up, or manage a small team.
• Experience, even on a small scale, matters.

Leadership isn’t a job title—it’s a habit you build, one step at a time.