In some ways, just keeping your employees engaged has become a global challenge. According to a 2024 Gallup study on the state of the global workplace, “the majority of the world’s employees continue to struggle at work and in life, with direct consequences for organizational productivity.” The study also estimated $8.9 trillion was lost in global GDP due to this problem. Given today’s nimble work population, if higher education cannot afford current salary levels, and the institutional environment is already poor, employees will simply move on to more promising job opportunities.
So, to create and maintain a successful team, in your IT department and throughout your campus, you should carefully define, analyze and review your work environment from the top down. A September 2024 article on the business website Upwork titled, "23 Ways to Build a Successful Team in 2024," lists a number of important and helpful steps you can take to achieve this goal.
As we all reflect upon our staff and our general work environment in higher education, especially over the past several years, I pulled together a top 25 to-do list for the upcoming year. The list is in no particular order, but intended to recognize the dedication of the IT staff, which at times are forgotten or go unnoticed. The list is also intended to consider all the technological tools at our disposal, how to use them effectively, how to leverage educational technology in the future, and how to lead and manage our employees.
1. Work to recruit and retain the very best IT staff for my institution.
2. Protect my campus from a major cyber or ransomware attack.
3. Make certain all of our institutional data backups are both secure and fully tested, so we can confidently rely upon them for full operational use.
4. Before the next big decision at a meeting, ask the question, “Who should have been at the table who hasn’t been invited before?”
5. Provide special thanks to the staff at the help desk. Provide the staff with coffee, treats and make them feel they are valued. Offer them praise and validation for jobs well done.
6. Whatever direction the political winds are blowing, make sure our students, faculty and staff are thought of as essential to our country’s successful and peaceful future.
7. Ensure AI is utilized ethically and incorporate the elements of transparency, impartiality, accountability, reliability, security and privacy.
8. Continue working to ensure instruction can be supplemented and supported with educational technology which fosters individualized learning for each student.
9. Make use of technology which is translucent — meaning it’s there when you need it but doesn’t overtake the classroom or the moment, or interfere with important social interaction or conversation.
10. Make certain the CIO or CTO always has a seat at the table for administrative discussions and decisions.
11. Have all faculty, staff and students continually utilize good cybersecurity practices.
12. Create an environment where campus administrators support and practice cybersecurity protocols, and consistent cyber training occurs.
13. Ensure the IT department can communicate clearly, concisely, consistently and effectively to the campus community.
14. Work diligently to promote the concept of servant leadership throughout IT and the campus. Manage others as you would prefer to be managed yourself.
15. Foster IT leadership that leads with purpose, collaboration and teamwork.
16. When leading, celebrate successes as well as acknowledging failures. Learn from both to chart a successful course for the future.
17. Strive for a work-life balance, both for yourself and staff.
18. Provide training and professional development opportunities for team members.
19. Ensure you have developed a team atmosphere and a culture of trust.
20. Encourage IT leadership and staff to get out of the office and travel the campus to meet and greet faculty, staff and students on a regular basis.
21. Create a work environment with clear goals, measurable objectives and expectations.
22. Work to empower staff and appropriately delegate responsibility so there can be mutual professional growth and development.
23. Encourage staff to take calculated risks and learn from them.
24. Manage but don’t micromanage.
25. Continually motivate your IT staff with positivity.
Tackling some or all of these items takes strong, resilient and empathetic leadership. Sam Walton, a well-known American businessperson and founder of Walmart and Sam’s Club, probably said it best: “Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish.” The upcoming months may bring a fair amount of uncertainty and dynamic challenges. The key for leaders and managers is to believe that positive change can pay long-term dividends. The one-word quote from the hit TV series Ted Lasso, from the coach himself, makes for a perfect parting message: “BELIEVE.” We can achieve a great deal by following and sharing each of these wishes to ensure our mutually productive future. Believe me.
