It’s business as usual. Or is it?
In all industries, changes are occurring at lightning speed. And while you may find change exhilarating for staying current in what you do best, change can be terrifying in other parts of your business.
Like technology.
What happens when Google makes a change that impacts your ranking; do you know how to deal with it? Are you aware of breaches that could impact your data? Do you monitor third party contract and service agreement changes and understand how they affect you?
Even if you do have an in-house IT team, they still operate with finite resources. There are only so many hours in the day, and only a fraction of those hours are used for education and training, to ensure they stay on top of their game.
What about what they miss? How do those things impact your business? And what can you do to close the gap?
It may be easier than you think.
An IT mentor may be the perfect solution to ensure you are at your top game in this technology-driven world.
Before you start a mentor relationship, focus on two things.
1. Am I clear on why I need these mentors?
We all have different needs and requirements. An IT mentor can provide extra guidance to an in-house staff that may be weak in certain areas. Will they benefit most from being able to look at the big picture? Or do they need help with automation? Or is safety a more primary concern? A mentor can only improve your situation if you understand what you expect as your ultimate goal.
2. Am I clear on what I need from these mentors?
Be very specific about your needs. Yes, your in-house staff may be great at certain aspects of technology, but an IT mentor will help fill in the gaps. They will help you develop a broader plan and nail down specifics to make sure you measure success in a clearer way.
Focus on the skills your team is weak on, and what is best to help your business become stronger and more competitive. Fill in the gaps without having to grow your staff.
Whether you can pinpoint your needs or not, the best place to start is by realizing help can make everything you do stronger and more succinct. Start the conversation, and make this a great year.
