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How to succeed as an ICT professional

If you are working as a white collar contractor (Independent Professional/IPro) in the ICT sector, the good news is organisations want you. According to the Q2 2015 Hudson Report: Employment Trends, ICT remains the industry most likely to increase contractor headcount over the next few months, with 22.1% of client organisations having intentions to hire.
Yet while demand is strong, true success in the ICT sector is about much more than technical acumen. If you have been in the industry for a while, chances are your role has some element of project or people management. This, coupled with the evolution of technology, the advent of social media and the subsequent power of the consumer in recent years has drastically changed the landscape of ICT management; it is no longer enough to simply be technically competent. So what can you do as an ICT professional to stay relevant?
Stakeholder management
In days gone by, the veil separating the customer and the worker was impermeable, particularly for those working in areas of the business such as ICT, where little customer interaction took place. Yet factor such as social media, flatter organisational structures and interdepartmental project teams mean that both internal and external stakeholder relationships are more collaborative than ever. As the custodians of their organisation’s digital presence, ICT workers need a deeper understanding of their customer’s wants and needs than ever before, as well as a keen knowledge of the ways in which organisations can use platforms such as social media to reach their audience.
Know your audience
Just as it’s important for non-technical workers in a niche industry to have a basic understanding of key terms and processes, those working in the ICT sector must be able to translate this highly technical information into language that each colleague and customer can understand. While the specifics are unnecessary, knowing how to explain and market the general process, functionality and benefits of a particular feature or project will bolster chances of a successful adoption.
Innovation is a part of everyone’s role
Many organisations employ special teams to drive innovation in their workplace, but the innovation should be the responsibility of everyone. While your role may not give you much influence on the strategic direction of your business, there is always room to improve the processes of your own work day. If you think there is a better way of doing something, speak up; it could end up saving you time and effort and could even help your organisation cut costs.

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