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Leadership Slideshow:
CIO Leadership Skills to Boost Your Career

By Dennis McCafferty on 2011-01-10


CIO leadership requires more than strong skills in IT management. You must also cultivate relationships that enhance a sense of “followership” within your tech teams and internal/external business partners, according to the book, The CIO Edge: Seven Leadership Skills You Need to Drive Results (Harvard Business Review Press/Available now). Authors Graham Waller, George Hallenbeck and Karen Rubenstrunk shed light on how the pursuit of these relationships can be executed in the same, systemic approach as the administration of tech systems. “CIOs understand they need to manage IT processes in order to deliver results,” Waller says. “They also understand the need to lead people in order to deliver on these goals. However, what many don't understand is the incredibly important interplay between the two.” Waller is vice-president/executive partner with Gartner Executive Programs. Hallenbeck and Rubenstrunk are, respectively, current and former executives with Korn/Ferry Leadership and Talent Consulting. Here are selected highlights:

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Commit to leadership first and everything else second.


It's people – as opposed to systems – who are primarily responsible for your department’s success.

A “leadership first” tip:


Evaluate how much time you spend reacting to events, as opposed to strategizing with your staff and other departments.

Lead differently than you think.


Your instincts are to be creative. But a top CIO is as much a collaborator as a creative force.

Leading differently shouldn't make you feel uncomfortable


Your tech skills will never “go away” by focusing less on them. You'll only enhance what you have to offer by being well rounded.

Embrace your softer side.


Paradoxically, you gain more influence by turning over more control to your staff. Take interest in their needs/goals to build trust.

A “softer” CIO still asks direct questions.


But it's the questions that have to do with “how?” and “why?” that stimulate dialogue with staff and provide deeper insight.

Forge the right relationships to drive the needed results.


It's not simply about managing those under you, and responding to those above you. Consider carefully your “sideways” relationships – with peers, customers and external suppliers – as well.

Master communications.


As CIO, you're always on stage. Communicate core messages with clarity, consistency, authenticity and passion.

Spot communication clues.


When you're speaking to a group, are participants constantly checking their mobile devices, glancing at a clock or otherwise failing to engage? If so, you need to examine why you're not connecting.

Inspire others.


Your IT team members will only give their best if they believe they're involved in something greater than themselves.

Inspire and embrace the office dissenter.


If the dissenter can constructively challenge your project along the way, consider this person an effective reality check.

Build people, not systems.


Developing the next generation of leaders may be your greatest legacy. You need to push people out of their comfort zone to challenge them – and even allow them to fail. But, take are not to push so far that any outcome from failure cannot be minimized.

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