The IT Leadership Deal

Top Ten priorities of a CEO (in countdown order)

10th place: Know what we know

Know what we know We have plenty of knowledge in our organisation – but it is inside people’s heads and hidden in our systems – what do we know? How can we find out what we need to know? Action : Transform your communication of knowledge by finding out where people go to find things out – and document these communication centres – it’s the “pull” reverse of what we are often told about communicating (push).

What are you, personally, going to do about this, and when?

9th Career Legacy

I will leave this organisation in a better state than when I arrived Action: Find out how your CEO want sto be remembered (you don't have to ask him, just read his words, and listen to what he talks about as being important. Also, decide how you want to be remembered in your organisation – write it out, and have a successor identified asap, and ensure you are totally dispensable as soon as possible. It’s the only way to be indispensable.

CEOs - Wellness and Balance

Too much stress, too many lost days, too many not performing. Action - Ensure people know how their role and work helps achieve the bigger picture, and that they know where to go to, to communicate, and place leadership at the heart of everything you do. Also, make sure people know where to go to when they feel things are getting on top of them. Support people when they are down and they will look after you when they are well. And take your own personal balance seriously – spend time with your children and your partner, you will regret not doing so in your final minutes on this earth, I promise you.

7th Top Priority for CEOs

Agility - Speed of company

Action: Make true decisions- when you decide on something, stick to it and don’t keep debating and discussing as you look for the perfect answer. There isn’t one. Discuss, make a decision, and take a first action – if it takes you forward great, if not then do something else.

Next meeting - make sure you do this - or don't and waste more of your (and others) time. You will be hugely respected and thanked

6th top priority for CEOs...

IT must deliver…
At last - and release value from existing systems IT

has not delivered – it has cost millions and is a liability in most organisations

Action – Ensure you have the right CIO in place, with the skills of business, always delivering and leadership. And make sure you focus on people and passion over process and procedure.

Or don't - just wait...

is...Vision

A clear, concise and compelling strategy for the company. Have one. Action – Ensure everyone in your organisation knows it, and knows how what they personally do relates to this strategy.

Anything you do that does not help you move closer to your vision, don't. You will stop a lot of wasted work, effort and time, and create a refreshing clarity.

For CEOs...

Security and compliance

Be clear on what we need to do, as opposed to what we are told to do. Have a compliance strategy that is clear. That may sound a contradiction in terms, it is! Challenge it may be, but do it anyway. Action - Stay out of prison, find out what you must comply with and what doesn’t matter. On security get independent advice that cuts through the nightmares and false stories.
There is much to fear in the compliance world, but you need not be fearful.

CEOs 3rd top priority is...

Customers

Business is not about making money – it is about delighting customers, the end result is making money. Make sure your customers love you at an emotional level. Action – Ensure that your decision-making authority is at the front-line, with your customer facing people. The more freedom they have, the happier your customers will be, and if you make them unhappy, look

Yes, I know there will be many of you shouting THIRD! - why not FIRST? - so, what beats customers into third place...

For CEOs is...

Wait for it...

Leadership

Of course it is - why? Because this is a leadership blog - :)

No, because people are not the number one asset in an organisation - that is simply not true - people are the only asset in an organisation. So, do you pass the acid test of leadership - if you were stripped of your traits of office, your job title, your office, your car - whatever - would you still be able to get the best out of your people?

Tomorrow - The single top priority of every CEO, and it may surprise you

Number One is...

Reputation

Being, and being seen as, a trusted company in the eyes of stakeholders, customers and the world. Have a clear Cause – a reason to exist – and ensure everything you are seen to do fits with this reputation. Be a true force for good in your community and in the world. Go beyond Corporate and Social Responsibility which has become an industry of its own. Action – what is your Cause? And protect your reputation; I have seen millions spent on a brand reputation destroyed by a single television moment.

And that's it...or is it - NO - there are TWO further priorities - one that runs across all ten (Monday) and on Tuesday one that is hidden - that no CEO will ever admit to in public, and yet it affects them all...

Have a great weekend everyone

The one that runs across all of the previous two weeks top ten...

Line of sight over every profit and loss business inside the organisation

Action - Have the same approach yourself - line of sight over every profit and loss that you are responsible for. That in itself will ensure you treat IT in a P&L way, which is the only business way to do it - if you are serious about your success, your future and your career, that is.

If you are not, then do this instead.

Tomorrow - The "hidden" one no CEO will ever talk about, and yet they all have...

...Is quite simply, this:

Loneliness

So what? So, stop asking your CEO, or boss, and organisation, what they can do for you, and ask what you can do for them. With thanks to JFK. If you think that is too much of a cliche, do it anyway. Or don't.

Tomorrow, a new series - Leadership of Choices - The Top Eight Choices you can make in your IT role, team or project, when faced with a challenge, or disabler....