www.itminddesign.com

We all know these people and some of us are these people. You know the type –they could be in the cube next to you — they sleep in bed with the laptop logged into the office and the cell phone and pager glued to their side. Even while they sleep, they jump for the opportunity when the phone rings. The ring of the cell phone blares and they spring to life. Some operational support person is calling them and the bitter taste of adrenaline starts to brew in their mouths. Some application or component is down, time to go to work. Their vision narrows as they focus on the issues at hand. They can fix it; they don’t need anyone else to help. No one else can fix this as fast as they can. They are the only hope. The sound of horse hooves thundering over the ground is deafening.

The description above might be extreme but for many Information Technology support personnel this is a real addiction. Those who fit this criteria have a difficult and often impossible time trying to transition into a different role in the organization. I know because I was this person — the addict. Sometimes it takes one to know one, and I still see the addict in others. Often times they are currently in management because if technical personnel want to make more money they must be managers. However, technical people — especially the adrenalin junkies — don’t often make good managers. These types will only be truly happy when the opportunity comes to ‘feed the need’. I have seen this quest for the fix in a manager who neglected ultimately the company’s objectives and the person’s direct reports. Anyone who stands in the way, may become a victim or competition. The addict can do no wrong but when he does only intense self-flagellation will do.

Once I entered management my attitude had to change and I had to hit the twelve step program for techies. I managed to detox and enjoy the ‘high’ from the successes and personal growth of those who worked for me. I can still remember, nothing was more awesome than fixing a problem no one else seemed to fix and fix it quickly. You genuinely feel that you have to be the best, the lead techie, and constantly stroked for being ‘the man’. Techno geeks are usually eccentric individuals and the egos that go with that is often a nasty beast that must be fed constantly. I know the lack of self confidence/esteem had to always be covered by the huge ego. For some in the none alpha type personality, feeling ‘worth something’ or ‘being needed’ or dependent upon is the manifestation of the severe lack of self confidence. For these types, the place crumbling in their absents and everyone being periled in resolving issues without them is greatest high.

Maybe this addition gives the reflection and perspective that a technical manager needs to remember what it is like to be the person who has to solve the problems when the fighting for the righteous solution gets rough but the selfish and harmful side effects may outweigh any potential benefits. These issues — the addiction — must end or the need will continue to fuel the destructive behaviors.