CIO opinion
CIO OPINION
“
IF ANYONE EVER
ASKS IF A CIO CAN
BECOME A CEO,
THE ANSWER IS A
RESOUNDING ‘YES’.
objectives that are understandable and
relatable to employees and their role in
helping to achieve them; communicating
strategies and expectations to shareholders
and stakeholders alike and recognising that
their relationship with the company should
be mutually profitable and beneficial; and
communicating the product or service to
customers and prospects.
A CEO must be able to illustrate clear,
open and effective communication to
inspire, persuade and convince, to suit
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INTELLIGENTCIO
a range of audiences. A CEO must also
practice transformational leadership – the
ability to set the tone of the business
by example to motivate employees and
attract new talent. This rings true for new
businesses just starting out as well as for
well-established enterprises. and it is with this in mind that having the
background of a CIO makes perfect sense.
A successful CEO must create the right
conditions for recruiting and retaining the
best talent across the business in every
functional area. Having the right people in
the right jobs and inspiring them to lead the
charge, a CEO should be able to trust every
employee to execute the business strategy
with excellence. Both positions rely on a thorough
understanding and dedication to business
requirements, a full commitment to working
with distinction and the ability to manage
expectations of and deliver them to
employees, customers and partners.
The journey from ‘I’ to ‘E’
Similarities run throughout these two roles, so
much so that a CIO is like a CEO in training.
And finally, a CEO needs to understand the
power of the appropriate and effective use
of technology. Technology is the engine that
fuels success in this day and age, and having
a solid comprehension of the technologies
out there that make the seemingly
impossible, possible, is critical. A CIO and CEO must both be able to
communicate business strategy and vision
in a way that will rejuvenate and empower
employees, along with anyone who has
an impact on the business. But most
importantly, both must value and show
commitment to these employees in order
for them and the business as a whole to
motivate, grow and succeed.
Keeping up-to-date on the latest market
trends is key as innovation is everywhere So if anyone ever asks if a CIO can become a
CEO, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. n
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