Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 38 | Page 45

a common goal through setting the right examples and inspiring communication of shared values and vision. Fundamentally, a CIO should be motivating the team to achieve higher performance by appealing to their sense of purpose and validating how each is integral to the bigger business picture – keeping the business running. Therefore, while the CIO is in theory only responsible for the business’ technology, it is a far more business-centric role that requires understanding the overarching business objectives, compiling the strategy and driving the roadmap to achieve these goals, and providing the dependability and commitment to the business, the team and to operating with excellence. A change in thinking for the ‘E’ It’s these same abilities and skills that are critical to fulfilling the role of CEO successfully. The CEO is relied upon to set the business objectives, strategy, goals and vision for the whole company to follow; the CEO will therefore need to have a strong understanding of the possible challenges that could occur, the risks worth taking and the ones to avoid. This task requires the skill and experience to take a comprehensive view of the business as a whole – every department, job, action and reaction – to see every part as one harmonised machine, set the goals and map out how to achieve them. Communication is arguably a CEO’s most important skill: communicating business / www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 45 45