Find the Right Geek

3. Communication skills: Speaking in bits and bytes won't fly. IT leaders need to be able to convey problems, solutions and strategic ideas in a way that non-geeks will understand. Their statements need to be short and concise. I have had very bright IT directors, who, once they got rolling on an idea, speak in techno-babble that makes my eyes glaze over. Their message was thus lost on me.

4. Organizational skills: IT projects typically never work as planned, so being well-organized will improve the process and cut down on the errors.

5. Employee development skills: Developing other IT employees' all-around skills will attract and retain the best developers, support staff and other tech experts.

6. Adaptability: Small- and medium-size businesses go through periods of ups and downs. They are a lot less stable than large companies with big cash positions. The small business IT leader needs to adapt to the change in a company's circumstances without complaint or panic. He or she needs to be hands-on and flexible.

7. Efficiency: Getting problems solved quickly and with the least amount of cost and disruption to the company are imperative, so being efficient in solving problems is critical.

8.Thoroughness: Running IT is very similar to managing accounting -- you have to be meticulous. You have to spot errors before they happen. It requires developing procedures and constantly going over them to make sure things run smoothly.

9. Recruiting skills: Today's IT leader needs to be a good judge and recruiter of talent. They need to have developed a reputation that others want to follow them.

10. Work ethic: In small- and medium-size businesses, you need someone who lives and breathes IT 24/7 and holds the department to very high standards. The market for smart business-focused IT professionals is very competitive. It is a position that should report directly to the president, and the individual should be a strategic thinker and leader who runs their department like an entrepreneurial business.