Heatherized, Inc.: Information Technology Professionals are Experiencing an Identity Crisis

TAMPA, Fla., April 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The technology industry is now estimated to be over a $350 Billion in the US.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the core technology jobs to reach 626,000, in 2026.  But, are technologists prepared with the right skills for the data revolution?

"No," says Heather Cole, technologist, high-performance coach and bestselling author of Solving the CIO Identity Crisis:  The Art of Becoming A Respected Executive Leading Innovation and Transformation. "Technologist can't get away with just knowing technology.   Getting the business to embrace new technology is a real struggle for most organizations.  It goes way deeper than investing in state-of-the-art technology. The challenge is to help business users overcome their fears and leverage information.  It starts with developing IT's soft skills," Cole says with an infectious energy and look of determination.  "It took me years of learning the hard way, but soft skills are the secret to my success.  I am introverted and have a highly analytical mind, but I've discovered even us nerds can benefit from a little socializing. Soft skills are learnable.  I know.  I've seen my clients change their lives and careers by developing their influence and communication skills.  CIO's and IT departments are experiencing an identity crisis, and my goal is to help them gain the respect they deserve."  It's her clients, that inspired Cole to write her bestselling book, Solving the CIO Identity Crisis.

Cole's book provides tips based on her experiences as a coach and technologist.  According to Cole, "Most technologist believe that being knowledgeable on the technology and showing users all the benefits is enough.  They don't realize that new technology scares a lot of people even executives.  Many technologists fail to understand and address the needs and fears of the users.  When explaining technology, techies can make people feel inferior, sometimes even stupid."

Some say technologist speak a different language.

"Absolutely, but with training they can learn to explain advanced concepts in a language that their end users understand.  Communication skills are like a muscle, they need to be constantly developed."

Cole guides her readers to improve their soft skills and approach situations differently. Her approach on paper is a lot like her approach in person, she often points out the obvious stating, "Common sense is not always common practice. I give my readers pragmatic steps they can take immediately to improve.  I want them to know they have someone that understands them and their struggles.  I'm motivated to help IT solve their identity crisis and breakdown the communication barriers because I believe technology can improve the world and increase corporate profits."

Solving the CIO Identity Crisis: The Art of Becoming A Respected Executive Leading Innovation and Transformation was released on March 31, 2019 and is available on Amazon in both paperback and kindle versions.

To book an interview, or for more information, please contact: 
Heather L. Cole | (630) 240-5853  | [email protected]

SOURCE Heatherized, Inc.