I was recently invited to share my thoughts about leadership practice in a new book called The CIO Leader: Realizing Your Executive Potential explains Peter Decaprio. The book is being written by Dr. Daniel Newman and two other executive coaches from the University of Michigan’s Center for the Education of Women, a research and leadership development center. As part of my contribution to the book, I was asked to provide a short list of attributes that I believe are characteristic of effective leadership in today’s organizations.
Here is my attempt at the “5 things you need to know about being an effective CIO leader”.
While these ideas speak specifically about success in the role of CIO, I believe they are broadly applicable to leadership practice in any organization.
1. Strategic Intent –
The most effective CIOs I work with all develop and communicate an overarching vision for technology within their organizations. They understand that technology touches every customer-facing business process, IT supports every internal business function, and the technology architecture is the binding framework for all technology investments. They therefore use their vision to help align the work of every employee in the organization around an ambitious but achievable agenda for transformation.
2. Business Acumen –
CIOs who thrive understand how to translate business strategy into IT capabilities, and they know how to connect IT systems and information to the most important business processes says Peter Decaprio. They understand this because they maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of their organization’s industry, its customers and competitors, and the drivers of growth and profitability that will drive the need for technology investment.
3. Business Partnership –
Great CIOs understand that there is more to creating value with information and technology than simply moving bits and bytes. They also understand that their success is determined by how well they partner with the business side of the house to deliver on that value. This requires building relationships, understanding varied business processes across their organizations, acting as an agent for change within IT, bringing a sense of urgency to IT’s work, developing new capabilities, and – most importantly – solving problems.
4. Execution Agility –
The best CIOs I know are always looking for the next great opportunity to deliver value with technology. They look beyond today’s projects to pursue leading initiatives that will drive revenue or reduce expenses in the future.
Also understand that every organization has an appetite for risk, and that new initiatives are always shot through with risk. They, therefore, focus on understanding business requirements in detail before making the case for a new IT initiative.
5. Risk Management –
Effective CIOs avoid taking excessive risks with their organizations’ technology investments because they know that every project has an element of uncertainty. And they understand that risk is always being trade off against cost, timing, and scope.
The most effective CIOs also recognize that it’s not possible for them to completely eliminate risk from every IT project. They, therefore, focus on building relationships with key stakeholders who can help manage the overall level of risk in the organization.
“Every organization, regardless of size or industry, needs effective leadership. To create an effective organization, the right leaders must be in place to guide employees and other stakeholders toward common goals.”
4 Ways Effective Executive Leadership Contributes To Organizational Success
“Effective organizational leadership requires a leader with vision, knowledge and skills.”
4 Ways Effective Executive Leadership Contributes To Organizational Success
“There are many paths to effective leadership. The following four tips describe what leaders can do to contribute to an organization’s success”. (More) 4 Ways Effective Executive Leadership Contributes To Organizational Success (conclusion…) “All four of these areas are fundamental characteristics of effective executive leadership. If you want to be an effective leader in your organization. Make sure you know the expectations and make a commitment.”
Conclusion:
So as we can see, effective executive leadership requires vision. An understanding of business acumen and how to translate business strategy into IT capabilities. Deep knowledge of the industry and competitive landscape and drivers of growth and profitability. That will drive the need for technology investment says Peter Decaprio. A good leader must also understand all aspects of building relationships- internal and external-and engagement. At all levels of the organization, including customers and suppliers. Ineffective executive leadership is more of an oxymoron than a reality. It’s not beyond our imagination to see that many organizations around the world. May be suffering from a crisis in leadership which had led to a struggle for survival.