In today’s business landscape, technology has taken on a pivotal role, propelling chief information officers (CIOs) to become essential members of the C-suite. The CIO’s job has become extraordinarily complex. This individual is not only tasked with driving innovation within the company and integrating technologies to differentiate it from competitors, but also with ensuring that employees receive comprehensive training and feel confident in their daily utilization of these technologies. These individuals must anticipate the future and provide the company with the tools necessary to get to that place. In addition, they need to be skilled leaders capable of getting people excited about change and willing to embrace the unknown. This is indeed a challenging responsibility, and each individual approaches the role with their unique style and approach. Nonetheless, there are some essential skills and traits when it comes to success, including the following:
1. Emotional intelligence
People tend to associate CIOs with hard skills, but the truth is that managing people requires some soft skills, especially emotional intelligence. Emotionally intelligent CIOs recognize key differences between different employees and push them to build on each other’s strengths. This way, teams can accomplish much more than they would be able to if they were working alone. With emotional intelligence, CIOs can empower team members to make bold moves and explore new territories, which is ultimately what drives innovation. Furthermore, possessing emotional intelligence equips CIOs with empathy, enabling them to anticipate moments when employees might become overwhelmed by the pace of change. This allows them to proactively intervene, ensuring the well-being and effectiveness of their team members.
2. Technological knowledge
Not long ago, the CIO was expected to be one of the most technologically savvy people in the entire organization. However, the balance between tech and business has shifted, so individuals with no prior information technology background now find themselves holding the CIO title. Certainly, the CIO needs to consider things many people with a heavy technology background do not typically pay a lot of attention to, but that doesn’t mean this individual does not need to have some nuanced understanding of the current tech world. The most effective CIOs are those who have a true passion for technology and a strong academic background in business. Marrying these two worlds is the key to making a lasting impact as a CIO.
3. Lust for knowledge
The CIO maintains complete control over an organization’s technology strategy, including how these tools can be used to drive growth and maximize efficiency. Few people in an organization have more responsibility. Given the extensive scope of responsibilities, it should come as no surprise that unexpected developments occasionally arise. Unfortunately, these unforeseen twists frequently lead to financial insolvency. One of the best strategies for avoiding this type of disaster is to become a constant learner. The best CIOs are always exploring new tech developments and wondering how they might apply them to their organizations. This enables them to pivot swiftly in response to unexpected situations and promptly identify a new direction. Lifelong learners are also more likely to admit knowledge shortcomings and seek out the best answers.
4. Superb communication
It’s nearly impossible to think of a role in business that doesn’t demand at least some level of communication skill. However, the role of a CIO places even greater demands on communication skills. CIOs need to be able to break down complicated technologies into simple concepts to sell them to both members of the staff and customers, not to mention investors. Getting people excited about something that is not tangible, and not immediately accessible, proves incredibly difficult. However, CIOs who can charm investors and get them to see the value in an endeavor are those who go on to have the richest careers. Beyond this, CIOs need to be able to listen effectively to understand concerns of stakeholders and address them promptly. Additionally, CIOs often need to extend their network beyond the company to engage with potential collaborators, and the ability to establish swift connections with them requires a distinct set of communication skills.
5. Clever resourcefulness
All CIOs must be resourceful. When CIOs think outside of the box, they can accomplish incredible feats. Typically, this means integrating old experiences into their existing landscape while accounting for the culture of the organization and the laws of the land. Whenever they can repurpose older technology or materials, they stand to save the company staggering amounts of money on fees and other expenses. Organizations frequently encounter the need for a transitional solution that bridges two technologies or sustains the company’s operations temporarily while finalizing the details of a new initiative. These are the times when CIOs can shine with ingenuity that meets company needs without overextending resources. This sort of resourcefulness demands excellent programming skills and a lot of creativity.