Al Gardner

 Al Gardner is the Vice President of Information Technology and Security for Denver-based Inspirato.  Mr. Gardner  specializes in strategic IT management and overall network operations management. Al is a passionate coach and mentor who has a reputation for building and motivating highly effective teams by creating a culture built on integrity, compassion, innovation, and performance.  Al successfully led Inspirato technology operations through the stages and innovations that will result in a 2022 IPO. Al is a seasoned presenter and speaks regularly at technology and management conferences on subjects that focus on management and technology strategies.

These Two Traits Will Make Your IT Managers Take You Seriously with Al Gardner

We kick off Dissecting Popular IT Nerds Podcast with an expert in team management and IT, both academically and with years of hands-on personal experience, to show you how you should present your IT solutions so that CEOs will take you seriously. 

Join host Phil Howard for his discussion with his guest, Al Gardner, as they hash out how you can break the stigma around IT as a mere “irritation.” Get Al’s advice on instilling truth and personality in your team members, where he offers tested methods to connect with other company units who don’t speak the IT language.

Put the best person for the job in the room–sometimes that’s not always going to be you.

3 Key Takeaways

  • Why we need to better articulate the truth to our CEOs and managers
  • How to utilize the power of distribution
  • Why you may be holding your co-workers and employees to a lofty standard

Listen To The Full Episode Below

These Two Traits Will Make Your Managers Take IT Necessities Seriously with Al Gardner
Dissecting Popular IT Nerds
128. These Two Traits Will Make Your Managers Take IT Necessities Seriously with Al Gardner
Loading
/

Episode Show Notes

[0:50] Al’s affinity for talking about executive influence
  • How do we get old-school techies to the next level of the leading tech force?
    • Truth and personality
    • Prioritizing truth
    • “We need to develop a better ability to articulate the truth of where our tech is at and time it back to where the business wants to go.” -Al Gardner
    • An example of when a truth is not tied
    • If they tell you they need a DOP program badly without a reason connected to the vision
    • What if they say “I don’t want to spend the money?” Al’s response
[3:40] Addressing the assumptions
1) The IT person knows what the company vision is
  • The best way to figure that out is to get in the room or stay relevant to where the rest of the business is going
    • Understand that everything is around IT
    • Goodwill mission
    • You can have a personality
    • Get comfortable being uncomfortable
[6:50] Other ways to get in the room
  • “A big part of what I’ve been able to do is that folks want to know that IT is not an impediment for where they want to go with the business unit.” -Al Gardner
  • Ask what your team needs to make it stronger
[8:36] 2) You have some general business acumen
  • Al’s MBA helps
  • Learn what to say to the CEO that applies to their language
    • “Learning how to speak to the business units in a way they understand has been really helpful.” -Al Gardner
  • Another example: talking to marketing
  • It comes down to cost analysis and their reach goals
  • You’re going to have to slow down the process eventually
[13:25] How do we love IT and being in sales at the same time?
[14:20] Other prerequisites to getting in the room
  • Power of distribution
    • “Distribute power amongst members of your team. You can’t be in every room.” -Al Gardner
    • “Put the best person for the job in the room–sometimes that’s not always going to be you.” -Al Gardner
  • Al compares this to taking care of his kids
    • If you don’t trust the others, you probably have something else you need to work on first
[17:30] Team building
  • How it’s different for the leader
  • What can someone do to build the best team?
    • “What does that real trust look like? People believing that you really have their true interests at heart.” -Al Gardner
    • You understand and set the tone for the team
    • Don’t accept a team with sharp elbows
  • Be honest and address them right when they make a mistake
    • Fight against the bias of having natural favorites
    • Everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed
[23:00] How do you have the hard conversations and help members to grow the right way?
  • Don’t push too hard to make them achieve a goal they don’t want to
  • Come to work with your full and honest self
  • Be honest with the people around you; be the same person wherever you are
[29:00] First and foremost, hold humility
  • Don’t hold a higher standard to others than you have to yourself
  • You’re not a miracle worker and neither are they!
[29:50] How do you know when to cool down?
  • Talk to others that you trust to run the scenarios by
  • Be willing to apologize for pushing too hard

Resources

Once a Week Newsletter

Leadership Articles / Emerging Topics / Nagging Issues

Dissecting Popular IT Nerds

A revolutionary podcast focused on solving IT challenges and growing the value of IT.

Recent Episodes
LINKS
Social Media
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Linkedin Rss Youtube
© All rights reserved. 2023
Designed by Muhinz

QR Code