Arguably the most important leadership trait in IT is the ability to communicate effectively. For the CIO in particular this is a critical part of his/her job. They need to be able to negotiate and state their business cases to shareholders. They have to be convincing, credible, and captivating to get their projects approved. However, CIOs are human beings just like anyone else and sometimes they make mistakes when it comes to communication. Meredith Levinson spoke with some CIOs about this for her article on CIO.com entitled “10 Communication Mistakes CIOs Still Make.”
Here are a few of the mistakes she lists:
- They Use Scare Tactics to Sell Ideas
Some CIOs will go into a business meeting and tell the other executives if they don’t do this and that the company could be in real trouble. They exaggerate and oversimplify things. Instead of opening up a stakeholder’s mind to new ideas though, this can make them more cautious and weary. It is recommended that a CIO present a few solutions with pros and cons and focus on financial, business, and customer impact.
- They Over-Rely on Facts
Obviously facts are critical for a CIO in building his/her case but relying too heavily on the facts can take away emotional appeal. Instead, says one CIO, you should be telling a story to capture a stakeholder’s imagination. This creates a connection or bond and you’re more likely to win them over.
- They Put Audiences to Sleep with Power Point
Power Point is without a doubt a popular tool in the business world but a lot of people simply cannot build a decent presentation worth sitting thru. Bullet point after bullet point leaves executives bored and overloaded on information. CIOs should take a step back before making a presentation and decide if Power Point really is the most effective way to state your case. Perhaps you could try a dramatic demonstration. That’s much more exciting and once again appeals to the emotional side of people, not just their intelligence.
To check out the rest of this list as well as Meredith’s complete article, head over to CIO.com or CLICK HERE.
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