Developing The Next Generation Of Security Professionals

A question and answer session with David Barton, CISO at Stellar Cyber

1. You’ve had more than 20 years of security management experience. At some point in your career, did you realize that coaching employees was a crucial component of being a good manager?

Hopefully as a leader, you realize sooner rather than later that being a good coach to your team is part of being a good manager.You can’t have one without the other.Our teams (generally very technical) are motivated by different things: some money, some public recognition, some promotion. Each person also learns differently and thrives under different management styles.It’s our job as a coach/mentor to understand these differences, embrace them, and then lead appropriately.

2. Some say that a crucial element of being good coach is to make sure that communication is two-way between the manager and staffer. Have you found this to be true? If so, how do you ensure that your direct reports feel that you are open to their feedback and ideas?

Two-way communication is essential for leaders and their teams.Team members want to feel like they have a say in the direction of the team and how that relates to the overall direction of the company. Without two-way communications, the communications feel dictatorial and not team oriented. While some don’t care or want to understand the big picture, team members want to know they make a difference.