In the age of digital Tech transformation, an IT leader needs a diverse skill set and experience to succeed. Gone are the days when CIOs work in isolation. Today, they have to work closely with all the stakeholders to create business value. Moreover, they have to adapt according to the evolving circumstances and lead digital initiatives in a way that can benefit business in the long run.
According to a research conducted by Center for information system research at MIT Sloan School of Management, 47% of CTOs and 45% of CIOs are digitally savvy. This means that they are ill-prepared to take on emerging challenges. This could not only negatively impact your business growth prospects but it can also hamper their growth as a professional.
So, how can IT leaders fill in those gaps? By learning from the best in the business. They should look at what makes top CIOs stand out from the crowd. What traits and qualities put them head and shoulders above the rest? If you are interested in learning that then you are at the right place.
In this article, you will learn about seven unique qualities of a tech savvy CIO that make them stand out.
7 Qualities of a Tech Savvy IT Leader
Here are seven qualities of a tech savvy IT leader that differentiate them from others.
Analytical Skills
Data analytics is a critical skill that every IT leader should be great at. Since they are the decision makers, they should be able to extract useful insights from datasets and make their decisions such as migrating from top cloud hosting providers to servers in spain based on that data. This will also enable them to execute IT strategy more effectively and map it with overall business goals of the organization.
Master new technologies and skills such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science to make the most of datasets. Invest time in learning how to use business intelligence and analytics tools and it will pay rich dividends in the long run. Keep an eye on latest trends and technologies and look for ways to use those technologies to your business advantage. This will give your business a competitive edge especially if you have the first movers advantage.
Grip Over Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity has always been at the top of mind for CISOs but this pandemic has made it even more important. The growing number of cybersecurity attacks targeting businesses and remote workers is a cause of concern. IT leaders should also make cybersecurity a shared responsibility. Increasing employee awareness regarding cybersecurity and training employees to deal with cybersecurity challenges of the future is extremely important.
IT leaders should lead from the front by staying up to date with the best practices, emerging threats and latest cybersecurity tools. They should dig deeper and understand how endpoints interact with each other and how to fully take advantage of extended detection and response tools. Harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning and threat intelligence to efficiently detect and respond to cybersecurity threats.
Ability to Learn
Just because you have reached the zenith of your career does not mean that you should stop learning. Instead, you should stay in learning mode all the time even if you are an IT leader. Sit with your peers, subordinates and even vendors to understand how they work and the processes they follow.
If you have a separate department for vendor management, it can be a great source because it can tell you everything you need to know about vendor solutions and give you access to enterprise architects. This would enable you to create your own roadmap. You can also attend vendor organized conferences to get even more insight into their offerings. These events can also serve as a networking opportunity to connect with your peers in the industry.
Research
The pace at which technology is evolving forces you to stay up to date to stay relevant. This could include everything from reading reports from industry leaders to attending conferences where they are presenting their research findings. Try to understand how an emerging technology can help your business solve its biggest painpoints.
Even though, most CIOs might already be learning alot about latest technology and attending conferences but where they lack is in applicability and use case of those technologies. By plugging that gap, you can easily implement those technologies in your organzaition and also get the best results from your technology initiatives.
Staying Focused On Business Objectives
Another area where most IT leaders need to improve is their understanding of the business. Yes, they might have all the technical skills required to drive an IT department to success such as managing the cheapest dedicated server hosting but lags behind when it comes to business and operations knowledge.
In order to succeed as a CIO, you can not afford to lose sight of the business goals. Afterall, the ultimate objective of IT and other departments is to fulfill the business needs. Understanding business operations will enable CIOs to make better decisions when it comes to buying best dedicated server.
Talent Hunting Capabilities
With issues like ever widening talent shortfall, the great resignation and employee burnout, it is very difficult for IT leaders to find the right talent and retaining them. Due to shortage of talented IT professionals, companies are willing to pay top dollars which lures IT professionals to high paying opportunities.
You can overcome this challenge by widening your talent pool and look for candidates outside the IT realm. Individuals with the right qualities and skills are easily available and can fit many IT roles. All you need is an eye for the right talent and you can find candidates that are the best fit for your organization.
Human Development
Hiring the right talent is not enough especially, if you don’t nurture them and prepare them to take up new roles. Invest in training and development of your IT team members and provide them with career development opportunities so them can climb the corporate ladder. Encourage them to explore new avenues and try new things and it would give them better employee satisfaction and reduce your employee turnover rate.
Which qualities does a tech savvy CIO must have in your opinion and why? Share it with us in the comments section below.
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