How to Become an IT Team Leader

How becoming an IT leader diversifies your career

 

IT leadership is about driving innovation, aligning technology with business goals, and leading people through digital transformation. 

 

As an IT team leader, you’re responsible for how new tools impact company growth, customer experience, and competitive advantage. Your role may include:

 

• Shaping the IT strategy to support business objectives
• Leading teams of developers, analysts, and support staff
• Managing budgets and ensuring ROI on technology investments
• Collaborating cross-functionally with departments like finance, HR, and operations
• Overseeing cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management
• Keeping up with emerging technologies and digital transformation trends

In short, IT leaders serve as the bridge between technology and business.

 

Why pursue a leadership role in IT?

 

Here are some primary reasons to consider pursuing a leadership role in IT. 

 

1. Expand your influence beyond technical tasks

While individual contributors in IT focus on execution (such as coding, troubleshooting, or maintaining infrastructure), leaders shape the broader picture. They influence company-wide decisions on software investments, data strategies, and digital priorities.

 

For example, while a systems engineer might maintain cloud services, an IT leader decides which cloud strategy best supports the company’s five-year roadmap. That level of influence can be game-changing for your career.

 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, employment of computer and information systems managers is projected to grow 17% from 2023 to 2033. This is much faster than average, indicating a significant increase in this field. 

 

2. Gain business and strategic insight

One of the most significant benefits of leadership is understanding how the rest of the business operates. IT leaders routinely collaborate with departments outside of tech, including marketing, finance, HR, and operations. This provides them with a comprehensive understanding of how a company operates.

 

For example, a mid-level developer promoted to IT lead may attend quarterly executive planning sessions, where they learn how to budget for infrastructure upgrades based on customer growth predictions.

 

3. Building people and project management skills

Being a great IT leader isn’t just about understanding code; it’s also about leading people and projects. From conflict resolution to team mentoring to Agile project management, the soft skills you develop are just as important as your technical knowledge.

 

These leadership skills are highly transferable and position you for roles like:

 

• CIO or CTO
• Digital Transformation Consultant
• Tech Startup Founder
• General Manager or COO

 

Of course, these roles also come with high salaries, meaning you have the opportunity to build a highly lucrative career. 

 

4. Adapting to emerging tech trends faster

Adaptability is crucial in today’s world, where technology continually changes how businesses operate. 

 

IT leaders are expected to stay at the forefront of technological shifts. Whether it’s adopting AI tools, migrating to multi-cloud infrastructure, or building a robust cybersecurity strategy, leaders must continuously learn and adapt.

 

5. Enhance your professional brand

IT leaders often emerge as thought leaders in their respective industries. You might be invited to speak at tech conferences, publish whitepapers, appear in panel discussions, or contribute to blogs and podcasts.

 

This increased visibility can lead to career-defining opportunities for the individual and could also create collaboration opportunities for the organisation. 

 

7 Tips to help you grow your IT leadership skills & become an IT leader 

 

Becoming an IT team leader isn’t something that happens overnight; it’s the result of intentional skill-building, strategic thinking, and consistent action. 

 

Whether you’re a systems analyst, software engineer, or network specialist, these seven tips can help you level up and prepare for leadership opportunities.

 

1. Develop a strategic mindset

IT leaders go beyond fixing problems; they drive outcomes. To develop into a leader, start thinking like a business strategist. Understand your organisation’s long-term goals and consider how technology can support them.

 

For example, instead of simply maintaining the company’s internal server, imagine you’re the one who proposes migrating to a cloud-based system that reduces operational costs by 20% and increases uptime.

 

2. Strengthen your communication skills

As an IT leader, your ability to translate technical concepts into clear, actionable business language is crucial. You’ll be speaking to executives, clients, and cross-functional teams, many of whom don’t speak “tech.”

 

This means you’ll need to practice simplifying your messaging, presenting solutions rather than problems, and tailoring your tone to the audience.

 

3. Build emotional intelligence

Technical skills might get you hired, but emotional intelligence gets you promoted. EQ encompasses self-awareness, empathy, conflict resolution, and the ability to inspire and motivate others.

 

As a leader, you’ll face stressed-out team members, tight deadlines, and cross-departmental tension. Your ability to remain calm, listen actively, and lead with empathy will set you apart.

 

According to a study by ResearchGate, leaders with high emotional intelligence create teams with higher engagement, retention, and productivity.

 

4. Gain cross-functional experience

To lead effectively, you need to understand how IT supports and intersects with every department in the business. This means getting involved in projects that touch finance, operations, sales, or customer service.

 

Look for opportunities to collaborate outside of your usual technical silo. For example, an IT specialist might volunteer to work on a CRM integration project with the marketing team, gaining insight into customer data, sales funnels, and campaign automation.

 

5. Take ownership of projects

Don’t wait for a title, act like a leader now. Volunteer to lead a project, coordinate a system upgrade, or take point on a new tool rollout. These are the moments where your leadership muscles are developed.

 

Managing deadlines, navigating team conflict, and delivering results show senior leadership that you’re ready to step up.

 

6. Pursue leadership training or mentorship

Just as you’d study a new programming language, study leadership. Enrol in formal leadership development programmes or consider asking an experienced leader to mentor you.

 

Mentorship is especially powerful. Learning from someone who’s already been where you’re headed can help you avoid mistakes and fast-track your growth.

 

7. Stay up to date with tech trends

A true IT leader anticipates tech trends and stays on top of tech skills. Whether it’s AI, cybersecurity, DevOps, or cloud-native tools, keeping your knowledge current is vital, as it helps the company remain competitive. 

 

Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of businesses will adopt AI engineering practices to manage models and reduce production failures. If you’re not learning now, you’re falling behind. 

 

How IT courses can help you get ahead

 

If you want to lead in tech, you must learn how to lead, which is where leadership IT courses can be beneficial. 

 

While technical know-how gets your foot in the door, it’s strategic thinking, leadership skills, and business acumen that earn you a seat at the table. This is where the right IT leadership training can be a game-changer for your career.

 

Leadership in IT includes mastering systems, navigating change, influencing people, and making smart business decisions. 

 

That’s why training programmes that combine both technical innovation and executive leadership are essential for those wanting to move up the ladder.

 

This is where MANCOSA’s Innovation and Technology Leadership Programme comes in. This online course teaches IT professionals: 

 

• Strategic alignment: Learn how tech initiatives support business objectives.

• Innovation-led thinking: Through Design Thinking and entrepreneurship.

• Soft‑skill mastery: Via Enneagram frameworks and project management tools.

• Credibility & recognition: With a blockchain‑backed certification, employers can easily verify your credentials.

 

MANCOSA also offers Postgraduate Diplomas (e.g., Digital Leadership or IT Management). These are 1‑year NQF Level 8 programmes in Digital Leadership or Information & Technology Management to deepen your strategic skills.

Register for an IT course with MANCOSA

There’s no question that the workforce needs to evolve as technology does. Businesses require strong IT leaders to maintain competitiveness and drive their companies forward into the future. 

 

If you’re looking to improve your technical skills so you can become an IT leader, or you’re an employer looking to upskill your most promising workers, have a look at MANCOSA’s IT course: Innovation and Technology Leadership.