In the fast-moving tech world, Tracy Johnson stands out as an expert who gets the importance of connecting with fellow IT experts. He keeps up with the ever-changing IT scene to stay in the loop about where it’s headed. He does this by actively taking part in online and in-person tech events, where he pays close attention to the big tech shifts. This strategy has been a game-changer because change is the only constant in tech.
Tracy’s journey is all about constantly learning. He’s dead serious about keeping his tech skills top-notch. This commitment makes him a shining example for others in the tech field.
But it’s not just about being on the tech forefront; it’s also about being a leader. Tracy says real leadership isn’t just about the spotlight. It’s about doing the right thing even when nobody’s looking or the cameras are off. It’s about solving problems instead of just talking about them. Tracy pushes for a problem-solving mindset, which sets leaders apart.
Tracy thinks many tech leaders forget how important it is to listen to customers. He believes their job is to be the link between the company they work for and what the customers want. Amidst all the company’s focus, Tracy tells tech leaders to remember they’re there to serve customers and meet their needs as best they can.
Tracy thinks tech leaders should become responsive team players who can explain tech stuff while understanding what customers want. He says this is the key to achieving success for the company. Tracy’s vision is all about creating win-win situations—a philosophy that leads to long-term success and good relationships with customers and within the company.
A Well-Rounded Professional
At work, Tracy is all in—dedicated and hardworking, driven by the organization’s goals and the team’s success. He’s a pro at connecting with people from all walks of life, taking the time to understand their unique stories and journeys. Tracy knows that people are shaped by their past experiences, which make them the pros they are today. To keep the workplace positive, he aims to be approachable and someone colleagues can chat with about work stuff or personal stuff.
Tracy has learned that going beyond job duties and getting to know people on a personal level is how you get them to give their best effort and stay committed. He’s all about humor and not taking life too seriously, knowing that life’s short. His motto is to give it his all and do his best to succeed in tasks and projects. Tracy’s really proud of being a top-notch salesperson.
Outside of work, Tracy likes taking walks during the week and is working on getting better at golf again after a break during the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s a big sports fan, loving basketball, baseball, football, and golf. Spending quality time with his family is super important, and he helps his 96-year-old grandma and 80-year-old mom with chores on the weekends. Tracy’s upbringing in a single-parent household, with his grandma and mom as big influences, has made him who he is today.
When he’s got free time, Tracy enjoys watching movies and playing strategy games. People say he’s the kind of person you’d want to sit next to on a plane because he’s friendly and easy to talk to.
Showing Determination and Resilience
Before starting his career, Tracy spent a lot of time playing basketball during his school years, from 6th to 8th grade. He was good at it, scoring an impressive 30 points per game in 8th grade. Tracy grew tall, reaching 6 feet 5 inches, and decided to play college basketball, even though he knew he wouldn’t go pro. Through his sports experience, he also pursued a business degree and learned important teamwork and collaboration lessons that helped him in his career.
Tracy’s journey has been all about staying determined and focused on his goal of becoming a successful business pro. Even when he faced lots of challenges and obstacles, he didn’t give up. He showed he could overcome anything with his dedication and commitment to his goals.
Vision for Transformation
Tracy is focused on making significant changes in three key areas within the field of IT and technology. First, he’s all about green tech. He thinks it’s important to cut down on our carbon footprint and protect the planet, especially with all the wildfires and other environmental problems going on.
Second, Tracy’s on a mission to make sure everyone in the world can get on the internet. He knows that having internet access is a must in today’s connected world. He’s all about closing the gap and giving folks in underserved areas the same chances.
Lastly, Tracy wants to use IT to make life better for everyone. He wants to use tech to improve things like healthcare, education, and just daily life in general. His goal is to bring us all closer together and make the world a better place.
Formula for Success
Tracy attributes his success to a set of core values and traits that have guided him throughout his journey:
- Competitive drive and a desire to always strive to be the best at what he is doing.
- Being a good listener and observer.
- Working hard to provide mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Tracy values working with people who have strong interpersonal skills, have a sense of humor, are able to tell a joke, and laugh while also getting the work done.
- Having a level of emotional empathy is extremely important, which ultimately leads to a solid work culture.
- The ability to embrace change is important. Tracy says, “Many people can only view business from their vantage point and not others. How will you come across the next great idea or strategy if you are not willing to embrace change? Being open-minded is very important.”
- Being consistent. Success requires a steady amount of effort. Monday through Friday, you must put in the work and work the plan for the plan to work.
Key Traits for a Team Member
When hiring a new team member, Tracy places a high value on specific traits that he considers crucial:
- Fire in the Belly (High Energy and Drive): Tracy looks for candidates who exhibit a strong sense of energy and drive, often referred to as having “fire in the belly.” He values self-starters who are highly motivated and proactive in their approach to work.
- Longevity at a Company: Tracy regards longevity at a company as a significant trait. He prefers candidates who have a track record of staying with a company for 4-5 years rather than frequently changing jobs. This stability indicates a commitment to their roles and a capacity to contribute to a team over the long term. It also highlights loyalty and perseverance, especially if the candidate has held various positions within the same organization.
- Positive Personality and Interpersonal Skills: Tracy emphasizes the importance of personality and solid interpersonal skills. He believes that individuals with strong interpersonal abilities contribute positively to workplace culture. Building relationships within the office fosters collaboration, particularly when different departments need to work together effectively. A candidate’s ability to connect with colleagues and contribute to a harmonious work environment is highly valued.
Taking Big Risks
Tracy took a big professional risk by leaving a company where he had a high-level job after 20 years. He trusted himself and joined a startup. Later, he took on an even bigger challenge by managing a business unit in the United States for a much larger global company. These career changes showed he’s not afraid of change and believes in his skills and ability to adapt.
Looking ahead to the next five years, Tracy sees himself leading an organization that’s all about growing the IT business. With his 26 years of experience and relationships, he wants to lead a team that’s all about growth and innovation in the ever-changing tech world. Tracy’s vision shows how ambitious and committed he is to achieving even more success in his career.
Insights for First-Time Leaders
Tracy offers valuable advice for individuals stepping into a leadership position for the first time:
- Your first 90 days are extremely important, so make sure you take the time to understand the company’s past and present situation, what has been effective, and try to maintain the positives and incorporate them into your go-forward strategy and planning.
- The idea is not to come in and change everything too quickly. One-on-one meetings with current staff are important to learn what is working and what the pain points are and to establish rapport.
- Be approachable! Approachable leadership will earn the trust and approval of the organization much faster than a leader with the door closed in meetings 24/7.
- Surround yourself with industry experts to offset your weaknesses. No one is exceptional at everything, so if you know you have a weakness in a certain area, hire or promote from within people in the area that will offset your weaknesses. This will ultimately lead to a more successful long-term leadership journey for yourself and the organization.
- Communicate and make people feel like they are part of the team. In-person communication, looking people in the eye, versus virtual meetings, is much more effective when applicable.
- Do not pretend to have all the answers. No one wants to work for a “Know-It-All.” You were hired to lead, but that doesn’t mean that you know everything. Your team will respect and appreciate you more in the long term, and it also humanizes you to the team.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
