What skills are needed to be an IT manager?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

IT managers need to have both strong technical skills and business strategy skills. Most IT managers have hands-on experience with coding and using the same tools that the IT team uses. Even if the position calls for less technical work, the IT manager still needs to maintain their technical skills to help guide the team.

An IT manager will be expected to lead and mentor teammates, manage the IT roadmap, and report team performance. This means that they also need a high level of strategic thinking skills.

Other skills that will help an IT manager be successful are:

Experience designing and deploying IT infrastructure and applications
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
Ability to link high-level strategy to day-to-day projects
Experience managing budgets and tracking KPIs
Leadership skills, with experience facilitating cross-functional work
Strong project management skills

To gain these skills, IT managers typically have a bachelor's or master's degree in management information systems (MIS), information technology, computer science, or a related field. In addition to formal education, IT managers also gain practical skills through on-the-job experience as developers or analysts.