On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why IT Needs to be Ready to Lead

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Why IT Needs to be Ready to Lead Having your department compared to the DMV isnt very flattering, but thats what is happening to many IT departments. Thats because many CIOs are focused on the technology and they dont really care about the user experience, hence the DMV reference. The comparison is made in a new book, The Big Shift in IT Leadership, by author Hunter Muller, who contends that many CIOs remain focused inward, only concerned with technology. But a small portion of CIOs see the writing on the wall, and know they need to play the game at a higher level by shifting their focus outward to provide a stellar customer experience, he says. While Muller acknowledges that undertaking a more customer-centric focus is a huge plate shift for CIOs, it is one that must take place not only for a CIOs own career trajectory, but also for the health of their company. CIOsneed to be readyto disrupt, facilitate and innovate, Muller says. They need to be recruiting, retaining and growing future IT talent. They need to communicate better. They need be passionate about the business fearless and tenacious. The best CIOs, he says, know that results beat out technology. Having great technology doesnt mean much if customers arent having a good user experience, because they will leave for the competition, he says. Speeds and feeds are fine, but having great metrics wont pay the bills, Muller says. Todays businesses focus on delighting customers, because that is how you make the most money. While embracing such new challenges may be daunting for some CIOs, Muller notes that the really neat thing about CIOs is that they have total visibility across the organization. He explains that with the access, CIOs have a golden opportunity to help develop innovative strategies and spur collaborations that will have a big impact on the organizations overall success. Today, IT really matters. It matters to the top line and to the bottom line. When IT has a bad day, the company has a bad day. When IT is on a roll, the company is on a roll, Muller says. In Mullers book, he makes several suggestions for those CIOs who are ready to make the big shift to key leadership within an organization. Among them: Build bridges.CEOs want trusted advisors around them and CIOs need to find ways to fit themselves into this role. If everyone in the C-suite plays golf or owns a sports car, do the same, Muller advises. This helps a CEO feel more comfortable that youre more than a techie and will fit easily into the inner circle. But this is just the beginning now you must learn to speak the language of the CEO and other (read more here) Photo:WPTidBits