IT Management Slideshow: Five Management Traps and How to Avoid Them

In overseeing an IT organization, you need to know about technology, but you also need to master the people equation. You must determine what inspires your team members and what causes them to lose focus and/or motivation. Effective leaders establish standards of performance that build critical buy-in from employees to ensure successful accomplishment of organizational goals. Former Verizon Wireless CEO Denny Strigl knows a lot about this topic. His company's wireless revenues grew from $192 million in 1991 to $62 billion by the end of 2009. In his book "Managers, Can You Hear Me Now?" (McGraw-Hill/available now), Strigl reveals classic management mistakes -- as well as proven strategies and techniques to avoid these traps. Ultimately, you need to be visible, accountable and responsive, Stigl contends. Here we highlight five of the top management mistakes featured in the book, plus steps you can take to ensure that you'll never make them: