Why IT Leaders Must Prioritize Leading Over Contributing To Projects
InformationWeek, Wednesday, April 9th, 2025
Hands on or hands off? Trouble can arise when IT leaders think they should be working alongside team members.
IT leaders typically begin their careers by working on a team. Exhibiting their knowledge and skill, they rise through the ranks to become managers and executives. Yet for many leaders, that urge to do some hands-on work never really disappears. Unfortunately, that's rarely a good idea.
As a technology and business leader, it's crucial to maintain oversight of strategic and operational priorities, says Rebecca Fox, group CIO at cybersecurity consulting firm NCC Group. Actively contributing to day-to-day project delivery or operations limits the leader's ability to focus on the broader direction, she observes in an email interview.