The best professional networks aren't built when you need a job. They're built years before you need anything.

This episode explores the power of long-term networking and why IT professionals should consistently maintain relationships with colleagues, former coworkers, managers, mentors, business contacts, and technology professionals.

Long-term relationships can create opportunities for career growth, knowledge sharing, mentoring, referrals, collaboration, and professional development.

Related episodes: Professional Connections; Technical Thought Leadership; Thinking Like a CIO.

Managing difficult employees is one of the most challenging responsibilities of an IT Manager.

In Part 2 of this three-part series, we continue examining different types of difficult employees and practical approaches managers can use to address challenging behaviors.

Related episodes: Part 1; Building Trust; Employee Loyalty.

How technical should a Technical IT Manager be?

As technology professionals move into management, they often face a difficult question: How much time should they continue spending on technical knowledge versus developing management, leadership, business, and interpersonal capabilities?

This episode explores the role technical knowledge plays in effective IT management.

Every IT Manager eventually has to deal with a difficult employee.

In Part 1 of this three-part series, the ITML Institute examines different types of difficult employees and the management challenges they create.

Understanding the type of behavior you're dealing with is an important first step toward choosing an appropriate management approach.

Teaching technology to others isn't just good for the person you're teaching—it can also be good for your own IT career.

This episode explores five reasons IT professionals can benefit from teaching, mentoring, coaching, and sharing their technical knowledge.

Teaching can strengthen communication skills, deepen your understanding, increase your visibility, build relationships, and establish you as a trusted resource.

IT and Finance need each other—but the relationship isn't always easy.

This episode explores how IT Managers can work more effectively with Finance, including communicating about budgets, costs, investments, priorities, business value, and financial expectations.

Understanding Finance is an important part of becoming a stronger IT business partner.

Want to become a CIO someday? Start thinking like one now.

This episode presents six ways IT professionals and managers can begin developing a CIO mindset. Moving from technical or operational management toward executive leadership requires broader business thinking, strategic perspective, financial understanding, organizational awareness, communication, and leadership.

IT Managers increasingly depend on technology vendors and external partners.

This episode explores how IT professionals can work more effectively with vendors, establish productive relationships, communicate expectations, manage performance, and create better outcomes.

Strong vendor management can help IT organizations improve service, control costs, manage risk, and maximize the value of external partners.

The projects you work on can have a major impact on your skills, visibility, career development, and professional reputation.

This episode provides three practical steps IT professionals can use to improve their chances of getting meaningful, high-value projects.

Should an IT contractor become a full-time employee?

This episode explores what IT Managers should consider when evaluating a contractor-to-employee conversion, including performance, skills, organizational needs, cultural fit, cost, and long-term value.