www.seatconsortium.com / @SEATconference
Larry Bonfante
Founder, CIO Bench Coach
Prior CIO of USTA, Larry is an Award winning CIO, Thought Leader, Executive Coach, Published Author, Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Board Member and Trusted Business Adviser
I created an executive coaching and consulting practice focused on developing the competencies required for IT executives to succeed in the new digital age. I have served as a mentor and trusted advistor to more than 100 executives at some of the largest and most prestigious companies in the world such as NBC Universal, Toyota, Prudential, EBay, Merck, Dish Network, Novartis and the NFL.
Provided one on one executiv coaching to CIO and their leadership teams. Run workshops and strategy sessions on critical competencies such as:
• Helping to drive your organization’s digital agenda
• Driving tangible business value and leveraging technology to drive revenue
• Attracting, retaining and developing key leaders
• Turning talented individuals into high performing teams
• Changing the culture and brand of the technology organization
• Leveraging diversity as a strategic asset
• Building board and C-Level relationships
• Communicating and marketing the value of the IT investment
• Building strategic partnerships
They also need to be able to connect the dots between what they do every day and how it impacts the vision. This reminds me of the old story of a man who is passing a construction site. He asks the first laborer what he is doing, to which the man responds “I’m laying brick making $25 an hour”. He passes the second laborer asking him the same question. However this man states “I’m building the most beautiful cathedral in the world!” This is the importance and the power of people having a personal stake in the vision and understanding how their contributions enable the vision to be achieved and come to life.
The bottom line is that people need to feel a sense of ownership and accountability for making the vision come to life. They have to understand on a very personal level the value to them of accomplishing the vision (psychic rewards, career promotions, personal recognition, professional development, etc.) as well as the potential downside of not accomplishing the vision (being acquired, going bankrupt, being outsourced, etc.).
The only way a leader accomplishes a great vision is through the efforts of a great team that is motivated, driven and relentless in pursuing this goal. Success is a team sport and great things can only be accomplished by great teams.