CIOs: Become a credible member of the C-Suite.

As the role of CIO continues to evolve, demonstrating business value and at the same time balancing competing needs become increasingly difficult and at times stressful. There are moments in a CIO’s career where life feels like a pressure cooker especially as risks increase.?

That is when it becomes extremely critical to develop partnership with other C-suite peers and create a trust to really run IT as a business center. Today’s CIOs are not only skilled technical analysts but also effective people motivators.?

There is a pressure on CIOs to constantly prove the value & ROI as it is often seemed like an expense/cost at the top level. Credibility is a cornerstone for any CIO aiming to be an influential member of the C-Suite. As technology becomes an integral part of the business, CIOs should establish themselves as a trusted partners and advisors to the board and C-Suite.

1. One Step Forward and two steps above and beyond Develop a deep understanding of the business – This helps to align with the business strategy and company’s growth levers. Engage with other departments – Regular interaction with leaders from finance, operations, marketing to understand their needs and challenges. Learn the trend – Keep yourself constantly involved in the industry trends, competitive landscape and regulatory changes.
2. Run IT like a Business - Accelerate the IT Business Drivers. Implement IT Governance and discipline, with focus on process efficiencies and delivery. Understand the risks and constantly prioritize Measure success and trend – Performance Management with metrics.
3. Adopt a Digital Delivery Mindset to Partially Compensate for Talent/Skills Shortages - Break down the walls of IT and silos. Explore areas where you can leverage non-IT folks to perform IT functions. Get heavy on Training and awareness. Initiate Community of Practice within organizations (CoPs). Develop Center of Excellence (COEs)
4. Look inside-out and outside-in - This helps eliminate Shadow IT. Human centric design approach for a problem. Look outwards to see your vision – Where do you want to take IT in the next 3-5 years? Solicit regular feedback.
5. Keep in mind – Only thing constant is a CHANGE - Humans crave stability but technology changes rapidly and so are risks. Reconcile tech debt and innovation and balance it. Understand cybersecurity and develop security based culture. Rationalize your vendor base and tool landscape – Consolidate and Standardize.
6. Use tactical empathy to put your point across - Let Data speak. Don’t wait too long -? Certain initiatives need to be performed as a part of hygiene. Create business case to deliver the message. Identify the most important outcome – 'Expected' versus 'hope-for'
7. Be the financial investor - Plan the budget tactfully! Have a bottom-up view of your entire spend. Shine a spotlight on Shadow IT, asset management hygiene, Fin-Ops model -Understand the Capex and Opex and have a dedicated IT finance team.
8. Offer CIO leadership - Understand the decision-making process and your role. Provide that armor like a knight when needed.
9. Place your bets carefully - Every decision of yours will have impact in the company. Be insightful and value generator.
10. Speak in a way everyone understands - Communicate effectively. Be the story-teller and back it up with the data and metrics. Be the culture change agent – Whether you are in the midst of transformation or BAU, culture is the key. Be emotionally aware – Emotional Intelligence is the key!

?CIOs need to create the value proposition which will help them gain credibility with other C-Suite members there by becoming true Value Officers.

Thoughts?

#CIO #Thoughtleadership #Executive #C-Suite #Leadership #cio #Business #Strategy #vision #execution #delivery #technology