Stress Test: IT Leaders Strained by Talent Shortage, Tech Spend
IT leaders are battling high stress levels while juggling skills shortages and digitalization initiatives. Communication and planning are key to reduce pressure.
Amid talent constraints, the pursuit of efficiency has taken center stage, compelling organizations to discover and invent new ways to optimize existing talent and resources within these limitations.
These constraints, coupled with the intense focus on digitalization and the need to keep up with advances in IT, are causing high levels of stress among IT leaders, according to a report by The Work Innovation Lab, an Asana think tank, in partnership with Firstbase and Sierra Ventures.
The report also revealed that while cross-functional collaboration is critical, it’s also challenging, and most (54%) senior executive IT leaders surveyed feel stress at least weekly from working cross-functionally.
Rebecca Hinds, head of The Work Innovation Lab by Asana, explains there are ways to reduce the stress associated with cross-functional collaboration.
“First, organizations need to prioritize company-wide goal setting,” she says. “At Asana, all our goals -- across individuals, teams, and company goals -- are connected so it’s easier to see the alignment and foster a shared sense of purpose.”
She explains this reduces stress caused by misalignments or a lack of clarity about who is working toward which objective.