CAD Leadership - Part 6 - A Leaders Corporate
Assets
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I read an
article in CIO Magazine in the not to distant past that outlined
what they thought an executive level CIO should have in relation
to talents in the corporate arena. I have adapted them for
the CAD environment.
Researching: The ability to quickly gather information from a
broad variety of sources, analyze it, and synthesize a method or
model that solves a problem, or various problems, in a creative
or innovative manner. This means digging into what the
next level of software might be for your firm. Check
competitive products if you are a unified shop. Keep your
ears open. Stay in touch with other firms and what they
are doing. Talk to vendors.
Interviewing: The ability to formulate questions used in
conversation to elicit facts or statements from another
individual, and a willingness to listen to what the individual
has to say. Getting to the core of the matter takes
ability in formulating questions. Ask open ended
questions, not Yes and No interrogations. Often you need
to let others just explain their position before you make a
judgment on the next step. Dr. Stephen Covey calls it
"seek to understand first, then to be understood".
Engineering: The ability to apply principles of logic, science,
and mathematics to the understanding of systems and processes to
improve them. Your CAD skills need to include
developing spreadsheets for calcing ROI, TCO and more.
Most of us need to develop and use our abilities such as Systems
Analysis tools. A logical systematic approach to solving
problems.
Lecturing: The ability to expound on an important subject
delivered before audience members to inform and instruct them,
as well as convince or persuade them to further action.
Most of the time we need to be involved in instructing others at
several levels. We most likely got to the level of
Manager by helping others in a one on one manner. We must
also develop presentation skills, teaching methods, and more.
Read information on how people assimilate knowledge and how to
present in differing environments. Watch other instructors and
get tips. Never forget to improve your negotiating
skills. This is needed for working with vendors and
resellers. Nurture your sales skills. You are always
trying to "sell" technology to others and upper management.
Arbitrating: The ability to reconcile the differences in
components of networked resources or assets to achieve a common
objective. Trade-offs are always part of the CAD
Managers forte. You will not get everything you need to
get the job done. Software budgets, training budgets,
migration budgets are always slashed or refused. You need
to be nimble and able to pull out a "MacGyver" solution with the
existing tools you have. Can you you complete a CAD
Drawing with duct tape and a ball point pin?
Coaching: The ability and willingness to transfer knowledge
about a subject to individuals, enabling them to succeed at a
given task, and (if necessary) identify their weaknesses and aid
them in correcting those weaknesses. Sounds like working
with most CAD Users. You need to motivate and include folks on
your team. Keep them focused and energized when pushing
forward with technology.
Organizing: The ability to put things together in an orderly,
functioning, and structured whole. This might be your main
focus. CAD Standards, procedures and processes. The
larger the organization the greater the need to get it organized
and get in on paper (or your intranet).
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