How IT Professionals Can Get Promoted to the C-Suite

In this article we provide you with a step-by-step guide to implementing the right disruptive technology, so you look good, get promoted and gain the freedom to do what you love.

Step 1: Align your IT team with the company mission and growth strategy.

Aligning your IT projects with the company’s goals is a surefire way to get promoted to the top and sit at the table. Study annual reports, listen to your leadership team about where the company is headed, and look for how IT can give your company a competitive advantage. You can then align and reprioritize your IT projects to leverage IT as well as your knowledge to help the organization meet its goals.

HINT: Don’t treat your role in IT as a job but instead as a career. Set up Google alerts, read industry trade publications, and have in-depth knowledge of your competition. Find the technologies that are specific to your industry.

Step 2: Implement successful projects that get the attention of the C-Suite.

HINT: Follow our proven 10-step process https://cloudtrustedadvisor.com/cloud-migration/ used across hundreds of cloud implementations.

Step 3: Deliver cost savings to the organization.

Do you want to put more money in your pocket when it’s time for your annual review? Cost savings, especially in today’s competitive market, will make you an instant favorite and the go-to guy with your CFO. And don’t forget, the CFO has direct access to your CEO, President, etc. The same people who have the authority to promote you through the ranks. Document your successes throughout the year so you are ready for your next annual review.

HINT: Our cloud subscription investment program https://cloudtrustedadvisor.com/cloud-roi/ provides cost savings, advanced training, hardware subsidies, service credits, and more.

Step 4: Implement the right disruptive technology that gets you noticed.

While important to the organization, it’s likely that your day-to-day activities are not providing the level of disruption required to get you noticed and subsequently promoted. While you may keep your job and provide for your family, you can expect a 3%-5% raise. But, when you research and implement disruptive technology that has an immediate impact on your business, you will rapidly move up in the organization. A few disruptive technologies include Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), SD-WAN, Cybersecurity, and Telecom Expense Management (TEM).

HINT: Check-out the examples below of technologies that, when implemented correctly, can get you promoted.

Step 5: Deliver a Favorable Project TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).

If the project investment you recommend to your leadership team does not include a favorable total cost of ownership or return on investment (ROI), it simply won’t get funded. With the current economic climate, technology leaders are postponing projects that don’t provide an immediate return on investment. It is also important to note that ROI- return on investment, and TCO- total cost of ownership are different. And you should read up on both, so you understand the language your peers are using when they discuss funding your project behind closed doors.

HINT: Most IT Directors show a favorable TCO on paper before the project is approved and funded. Schedule a follow-up with your CFO and CIO, and then deliver the TCO after the project is complete to show that you deliver on your promises.

Step 6: Don’t focus on keeping the blinking lights on in your data center.

As we covered earlier, keeping the lights on in IT will keep you employed, but it won’t get you promoted. Seek out challenges, ask for complex projects, and, most importantly, align your projects with the organization’s goals. Talk to different business units to find project ideas.

HINT: Follow the money. Ask your peers in other divisions to lunch, coffee, or a beer after work. Work with your sales leadership to see how your team can positively impact sales. One way to do this is to replace aging technology with more flexible cloud solutions such as UCaaS. With a UCaaS solution, your sales reps are armed with the latest technology to do their job better and faster—as well as the contact center. Most contact centers use outdated technology from companies like AVAYA. Advances in AI, chat, and workforce management is turning cost buckets into revenue generators.

Step 7: Work on getting your name on projects critical to the business.

Be proactive, don’t wait for assignments. Do your research and align yourself with critical vendors such as cybersecurity that deliver on industry disruption. Call a TA- Trusted Advisor, someone who helps technology leaders evaluate, implement, and adopt the leading vendors. Review our case studies at the end of this article to find out what your peers have done.

HINT: Read https://relayto.com/tim-conti1/state-of-disruption-report-ucaas-ccaas-sd-wan-cybersecurity-3zc6m510cd7y8/8y70CQQH1 our State of Disruption Report. This report outlines the top areas of disruption based on interviews with your peers.

Step 8: More marketable = promotion = your freedom.

And the final step, GET PROMOTED. After delivering on a minimum of two strategic projects per year, you WILL be in line for a promotion. If not, there are thousands of companies hiring IT talent, especially talent that has a track record of delivering solutions that positively impact organizations. You are now an agent for change, positive change, and not a dime-a-dozen, 9-5 IT guy. The world needs more change agents and fewer IT guys.

The Final Step: THE PROMOTION

Ben is a career IT guy. Feeling frustrated, he reached out to a trusted advisor to understand the technologies that would lessen the redundancies and move him up the ladder. The State of Disruption Report is one example of how we arm ourselves with the most current trends in technology. With the help of his TA, Ben migrated an expensive cisco call manager to a new cloud telephony solution. He followed the telephony project with an SD-WAN solution from Aryaka. The result was $1M in savings by eliminating a Lumen MPLS network. Ben was promoted from IT manager to Global Infrastructure Manager and traveled the world, earning points for future family vacations in the process.

Richard is an IT Manager working in the restaurant industry. 40% of his time involved patching, maintaining, and managing an end-of-life Nortel phone system. Richard worked with his TA to explore the market for cloud-based collaboration solutions and implemented a communication standard for all current and future restaurants. The cookie-cutter approach slashed their Telco bill in half and freed up Richard’s time to focus on cybersecurity and other more critical initiatives. Richard was promoted to director of IT from IT manager. His boss was also promoted to CIO. He is no longer running from restaurant to restaurant, putting out our fires. Richard was able to hire an IT guy to help.

Bob is the VP of Technology for a large staffing firm. Bob’s team was in trouble with chronic phone outages negatively impacting the business. The situation was so dire that it even became an agenda item for the company’s board of directors. Utilizing technology to its fullest in staffing is paramount. Bob’s team had already moved their communications platform to the Cloud but chose the wrong provider. Bob worked with his TA to quickly narrow the entire vendor portfolio to find the right vendor. With the help of his TA, they could find and implement a solution in just 45 days. Bob was recently promoted from VP of Technology to Head of Cybersecurity for a new business unit. He is on track to land a CIO gig.

We wish you much success.