Whether you’re a young professional trying to make a career of IT consulting or you’re a young company looking to streamline its IT infrastructure, you need to understand what makes effective IT consultants.
In this blog, we’re detailing all of the attributes effective IT consultants should have. From IT experience, critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, and effective communication abilities, the best IT consultants have a wide range of talents.
At Senroc Technologies, we believe your IT infrastructure should feature the latest technologies and experience available. If you’re wondering how to position your company as a highly-competitive, competent organization, contact us today to learn more about what our managed IT services in Denver can offer.
IT Experience
There’s no way around this one: when it comes to IT consultancies, the one with the experience will get the carrot. At its root, the IT space is reserved for experts and there is a high barrier to entry. Even after a professional climbs the initial hurdles of the tech industry, those who push themselves to achieve expertise within this field will be highly sought after.
The IT industry doesn’t only have a high barrier to entry. It also has a large skills gap between novice and experienced professionals. IT consultants should be experts and not all experience is equal within the industry. To stand out as an IT consultant, you will need a wide range of skills and a large portfolio of archived successes.
Critical Thinking
IT consultants don’t have the luxury of becoming mechanical in their focus. Their primary responsibilities revolve around troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues. Critical thinking is necessary, and they need to understand how to compile and analyze relevant data.
IT consultants should be adept at identifying the root cause of issues and they must determine solutions to those issues quickly. They should be able to utilize predictive analytics within your IT infrastructure and devise solutions that move your organization forward.
IT consultants might not be required to build systems from scratch. But they should be able to thoroughly analyze existing systems and issue recommendations that move the needle for organizations. You won’t need to crunch numbers, but numbers analytics are a necessary component of the position.
Critical thinking skills also incorporate time management abilities. For example, if a business needs you to remove viruses or fix their software, you need to be able to accurately estimate their timeline while still fulfilling other agreements.
You will need to identify faults as well as solutions in real time. Clients might also ask you to find more effective and quicker solutions. Therefore, you need a sizable acumen for the latest technological solutions tools.
Technical Knowledge
This goes without saying, but you can’t just stay informed on the latest technological advancements to be an effective IT consultant. You need to be able to operate these tools with precision and mastery.
While most of an IT consultant’s role revolves around corresponding with the leaders of other companies and ensuring they explain strategies succinctly, they also have to respond to issues in real time. You can’t merely guide them to prospective solutions; you have to implement solutions and show clients why they work long-term. You will be required to repair computer viruses, design new systems, and implement technological elements if you want to be a valued consultant.
Interpersonal Skills
However, the technological components of your responsibilities cannot overshadow your ability to communicate complex information to your clients. Clients hire IT consultants because they don’t want to spend loads of time uncoiling technological issues. IT is a difficult, specialized industry and C-suite executives’ time is precious.
What good is an IT consultant who confuses you? As an IT consultant you need to be able to help your clients see the strategy to your approach. Without this clarity, they’re liable to search elsewhere.
Collaboration
Effective IT consultants are not one-man shows. To understand what your clients want, you need to be an excellent collaborator. As a recent Harvard business study shows, one of the most common reasons consultants fail is because they listen to their personal needs rather than the needs of the client.
How can you deliver on your clients’ desires if you can’t communicate with them about what drives them? How can you develop a cohesive strategy if you can’t work together on the issues you face?
As an IT consultant, you need to be keenly aware of how your ability to work with others affects your overall performance. You should rely on your clients to communicate their needs and collaborate with them to deliver on your promises.
Action Orientation
IT consultants can’t just talk a big game. They need to show action in their strategies. Action-orientated IT consultants will display the following characteristics:
- Evaluate strengths and weaknesses on a periodic basis.
- Perform under pressure.
- Thorough understanding of the project. This includes non-technical aspects.
- Ability to delegate responsibilities to other team members.
- Display of emotional intelligence.
- Perseverance in the face of adversity.
Action orientated IT consultants are able to not only manage the technological components of their duties; they can also navigate the complexities of office and social settings. Effective IT consultants should be able to handle stressful situations well while understanding the complete framework of their project rather than the finite components.
Those more comfortable working solo will likely not be able to translate their skills into successful IT consultancy. The bottom line with action-orientation is IT consultants who attune their approach to their client. They will be able to handle feedback and will perform regular critical evaluations of themselves.
What Sets IT Consultants Apart?
Successful IT consulting isn’t just about who’s the most tech savvy. In many ways, the collaborative skills and abstract thinking abilities of your IT consultant will determine their success.
Below, we list some examples of what sets excellent IT consultants from mediocre ones.
- Passion– How many times have you heard about the boring, nerdy IT professional? You don’t want that attitude for your consultant. Your IT consultant should immerse themselves in their craft. They should understand the latest technology and what will set your organization apart from the competition.
- Creativity– Effective IT professionals should understand how to adapt to solve problems. In the IT sector, what works now won’t work for long; that’s why IT consultants have to upgrade their skills and stay ahead of the curve. Determining a long-term strategy requires intuition as well as flexibility.
- Dedicated to Customer Experience– You can be the most tech-savvy person in the world, but if you don’t care about your clients, you’re virtually useless. When it comes to IT consultants, it’s not just about the skills. It’s about the availability and the level of service you provide to people. Being available to your clients when they need you most is an excellent way to set yourself apart from the competition.
- Eagerness to Learn– Because the IT sector changes constantly, effective IT consultants actively seek ways to expand their knowledge and network. Understanding the latest trends as well as the leading technology providers will position you well in a highly-competitive industry.
- People Skills– The stereotype of IT consultants is not without its merit. If you want to be an effective IT professional, you need to disprove the notion of antisocial behavior. This doesn’t mean you need to be energetic or outgoing. It means you need to listen to your clients needs and communicate a proposed solution to their needs.
Bottom Line- What Skills Does an IT Consultant Need?
IT consultants should be able to provide their clients with the latest technology while concisely explaining strategies to their clients. These professionals should not only have the skills and acumen to carry out complex technological solutions. They need collaboration and communication skills to be able to deliver these strategies and explain their significance.
At Senroc Technologies, we provide our clients with intuitive IT strategies. Our human-centric approach to IT means you will always be able to speak to someone about your IT needs. We understand IT is complex, but we’re here to simplify things.
Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can fortify your IT infrastructure. (303) 350-4055
