Regardless of how long you’ve been an IT manager, it’s easy to have misconceptions about the job. 
As a new IT manager, you may have assumptions based on how you’ve seen others perform under the title.
If you’re a veteran IT manager, over time, you may have subconsciously developed beliefs that aren’t entirely accurate or no longer hold.
The beauty and challenge of technology is that it is constantly changing.
This keeps IT managers on their toes and always gives them a chance to learn something new. The flip side is it can be challenging to keep up on new tech and methods as you dedicate yourself to becoming an expert in your company’s IT environment.
Essentially, there is so much going on in IT that you have to block out some of the noise to be an effective IT manager.
If you’re a newer IT manager, there is no substitute for experience, which you’ll accumulate over time.
The KR Group has seen its share of myths about managing IT, both with our customers and internally.
When you know better, you can do better, so we want to clarify a few of the most common myths we’ve come across:
- You need to know everything about IT.
- You should be able to do every IT task.
- You must be extremely technical.
- You need the highest level certifications.
- You’ll spend more than you save working with a VAR.
By reading through how we’ve debunked these misconceptions, you should have a better understanding of what it takes to be a good IT manager and be more confident in your position.
If you’re reading this as a veteran IT manager, you may even find some changes you could make to motivate your entire department better.
IT Managers Need to Know Everything about Technology
Even at The KR Group, our leaders and engineers are continually learning about new technology or little nuances they were unaware of within their areas of expertise. Lifelong learning is so important to us that it’s one of our core values.
As an IT manager of your organization, you have to dabble in every area of technology as you work to understand a bit about every component of your IT environment.
However, you don’t need to know everything about IT.
You should always be willing to learn something new and rely on resources (whether internally or externally) to fill in the knowledge gaps you have.
The best IT managers know where to get the answers when they are unsure of something.
IT Managers Should Be Able to Perform Every Job in the Department
Another myth IT managers believe is that they’re only effective if they can do the job of everyone below them.
While you’ll undoubtedly need some IT experience, you don’t have to do everyone’s job.
In fact, employees report more satisfaction when they have autonomy within their jobs. As satisfaction rises, motivation increases, and job turnover decreases.
You’ll still need the IT knowledge to help pitch in when your team is overwhelmed and give your department clear direction and definition for success.
However, the best managers know how to motivate people, not micromanage their actions.
IT Managers Must Be the Most Technical Team Member
Not only do you not need to be able to do every task in IT, but you also don’t have to be the most technical person in your department.
Again, you need to have a working knowledge of IT and a commitment to learning, but you aren’t in the trenches every day. You can rely on your network engineers and system administrators to keep up with the technicalities.
The best managers understand they don’t need to be the expert on every specific component of an IT environment.
For example, if cybersecurity isn’t your forté, then refer to the person who is the expert when you are making decisions related to your IT environment’s security.
As an IT manager, especially in larger organizations, your responsibilities will shift from managing tech to managing people.
IT Managers Need the Highest Level Certifications
A common belief in IT is that certifications make someone fit for IT leadership. While these accomplishments validate knowledge, they don’t guarantee success.
There is no substitute for spending time in the trenches solving IT problems, even with many certifications. They aren’t equal to competency for the role of IT manager.
However, going back to the earlier point, you don’t need experience in every area of IT to be an effective leader.
Being a leader who knows what external and internal resources are available and an attitude for learning is equally important to a resume.
It’s great to be the expert, but it’s better to be willing to learn when the need arises.
IT Managers Will Spend More Working with a VAR
Value-added resellers (VARs) are an available resource for IT managers of all levels of expertise.
But, many IT managers avoid engaging them because they either don’t realize VARs exist or incorrectly assume they’re not cost-effective.
However, the belief that working with a VAR is expensive typically stems from first- or second-hand experience where the estimated cost of a project increased after engaging a VAR.
When you work with a VAR, they’ll do more than order a solution for you and have it shipped. They’ll also advise on the longevity and compatibility of that solution within your IT environment.
If the original solution you had in mind wasn’t a good fit, your VAR could suggest something that costs more than your original idea.
While the total cost may have gone up, so did the value of the solution. (You’ll generally still pay less than if you had to buy another solution because the first one wasn’t adequate.)
However, you could also receive discounts and competitive pricing exclusive to VARs and unavailable to the general public. And, the overall timeline of implementing a solution is dramatically decreased when you have an IT consulting company lending you a helping hand.
As an IT manager, you’ll generally find more benefits to partnering with a VAR than cons.
What’s True about the Role of an IT Manager?
Now that you understand what you shouldn’t believe about your job as an IT manager, let’s review what is true:
- You should know where to get the answers; you don’t need all of the answers.
- If you can motivate the employees who have more specialized knowledge than you, the entire IT department will be better for it.
- As an IT manager, knowing how to manage people is just as important (and in some cases more essential) than spending your time managing tech.
- Certifications are beneficial, but you can be equally adept without them.
- VARs can be a helpful resource for planning and purchasing new solutions.
For more tips and tricks for carrying out the duties and responsibilities of an IT manager, check out our article “Top 5 Benefits of Working with an IT Consulting Company” or “How to Prioritize Your IT Manager Responsibilities.”