Innovations and technologies continue to shape the business landscape, and organizations must innovate at an ever-increasing rate. As part of our mission to share insights and engaging thought leadership perspectives from in-the-know tech leaders, we sat down with Andy Flatt, Senior Vice President and CIO of National Healthcare Corporation (NHC), to get his thoughts about tech leadership, the value of training and what lies ahead.
When it comes to the tech industry, knowledge is leadership
Over the past decade, tech has transitioned from a behind-the-scenes business role to a critical driver of an organization's strategy and success. Tech leaders are at the forefront of the business and require a deep understanding of the latest developments in the tech space. "Now, every piece of the business runs on technology," says Andy. "So it's incumbent on technology leaders to have a huge business knowledge."Communication skills are vital for leaders—and anyone working in tech
The ability to communicate effectively is a critical driver in managing and mitigating security risks and is a vital skill for employees at every level of your organization, especially when technology is part of the conversation. Navigating innovations requires communicating the benefits, risks, and requirements with clarity to ensure everyone is on the same page. According to Andy, leaders also need to be diplomatic so they can "help steer and guide the decisions that need to be made to effectively roll out technology and keep it secure."
Balancing innovation with security is vital for success
The proof of the importance of security in tech is in the news headlines. A data breach, malware attack, or other security event can devastate a business, its reputation in the industry, and its perception among its customers.
While innovation and agility are crucial to delivering results and staying ahead of your competitors, it's essential to have a robust governance process, with security professionals overseeing any new projects and innovations for consideration. "The first order of business is security, which prompts everything else," says Andy. He also highlights the importance of having a clear incident response plan, so if your company faces an incident or an investigation, "there's a protocol by which you do that and take it up the chain of communication as appropriate."
A culture of learning and development can give businesses a competitive edge.
By providing and promoting learning opportunities, companies can create a clear path for employees to enhance important skills, tackle new issues as they arise, and develop innovative thinking that keeps the organization moving forward. Flexible training options that reflect how your employees learn best can also help them feel motivated to embrace learning and development. Instead of a mandatory requirement added to their list of responsibilities, flexible training options give employees an engaging opportunity to build valuable skills and grow in their careers.
Creating an effective plan that is met with enthusiasm requires considering the different types of learning styles. As Andy points out, "There's no one size that fits all as far as learning style. Whether somebody likes to go to a class, or they like to read and take tests, or they're virtual, that's all up to the individual learner. What we try to do is encourage all those options and provide for the ability to go and take classes online."
With CompTIA training solutions, employees can learn in the way that works best for them and earn certifications that are widely respected and provide greater opportunities for career growth.
Employees face greater demands for tech skills
As tech continues to shift and change, companies aren't the only ones under pressure to stay ahead. Employees must also continue to upskill and advance their skills to perform and deliver in the workplace. "If you bifurcate specialties like infrastructure or, most specifically, security, I think you're going to have a huge demand for deep knowledge in certain areas," says Andy.
Even employees who aren't working in the IT department may need a level of tech knowledge and skills to help them deliver and shine in their role. Andy said, "In the past, we would look to recruit solid talent and continually build a good IT organization and department. Now, most IT organizations have good technology talent throughout the business. So how do we help?"
To learn more about tech training solutions that can impact your organization, contact our team today.