In the post-Covid era, the CIO role goes beyond technology implementation, aiming for organizational and customer success. They must partner with other business units to support customer and employee satisfaction, adapt to change, and share insights on key decisions to ensure the smooth functioning of them business. As technology and digital capabilities become more prevalent, the number of tech leadership roles has expanded, with many organizations having at least four roles. The number of technology executives with "digital" titles has doubled since 2018, making leadership through influence even more important.
Deloitte's 2023 Global Tech Leader Survey reveals that 54% of CIOs and tech leaders believe "soft" leadership traits, such as inspiring, communication, and executive presence, are crucial for long-term success in the technology function. This is three times the 18% of those who consider software engineering capabilities to be key. The survey also highlights the importance of softer skills like transformational leadership, monetizing tech assets, problem-solving, and collaboration. Business leaders also emphasize the significance of soft skills, with the top four responses from over 650 businesses take holders related to communication, industry knowledge, influence, and overall leadership.
CIOs can lead by example by being available, communicating the same message in different formats, and sharing their IT vision and progress. Being available as a sounding board and approver can increase communication and foster a sense of unity among employees and partners.
To keep pace with rapid technological changes, CIOs should advocate for the adoption of agile and lean approaches in project management and software development. This can help organizations be more adaptive and responsive to changes and opportunities. Sharing perspective and breaking down key messages can help the IT team understand the situation and prepare for increased responsibilities. As CIOs continue to shape their positions, the "one-size-fits-all" job specification may no longer be applicable as companies strive to meet their unique customer needs and provide technology services under the direction of their senior-most technology leader.
