#technicaltrouble #askquestions #humility #leadership
I have been struggling with an issue on my website. I accidentally set it up as a blog and not a website with a blog and now I can’t seem to change it back.
This was a big lesson in humility. IT reminds me of those days when I started out as a full time project manager in a field I had no clue off. I, a Nurse & medial administrator, was suddenly in charge of Data Infrastructure Projects…..
Luckily I had already understood a very important point:
The project manager manages the project, but is not the subject matter expert! Your team are the experts and you need to learn from them the basics, and learn to lead them. Servant leadership helps you to bring out the best in the team.
So I asked several tech Gurus what to do. I actually asked to teach me how to solve this. Now I have a whole long list of YouTube videos to watch and lots of great advise. And the cherry on the cake? I am learning how to do these things.
I think admitting when you are stuck or you do not know something is very healthy. It makes you come across as more genuine, it gives your team a chance to shine and it can bring your team closer together.
When I started with Data Infrastructure projects I did not have a clue about data cabling, I didn’t know the difference between a UTP and a phone cable, I was scared of fiber cables, since all I knew was they are fiber glass and can break and I wouldn’t have known an RJ11 or and RJ45 if it hit me in the face. So I asked my team to help me out. We set down in the dirt and dust of construction sites and they showed me what I needed to know. They even showed me how to crimp cables. I sat down also with the guys who did design drawings and learned when to cascade switches and when not to.
Lessons Learned
After I learned all the basics, I realized 3 things:
- I will never be a Data Infrastructure specialist, but I do not need to be either. As long as I build my team and allow them to shine we will be good to go.
- As a Project Manager I do not need to be the subject matter expert, I need to surround myself with them
- Learning from each other builds the team and pulls them closer together
Let’s all keep learning and keep allowing your team to shine!