It's Time For A Leadership Upgrade

​Most business leaders recognize the importance of having the right leadership in key roles.  They also know the influential role that technology plays in business, especially now that we are in the “Digital Age” and Digital Transformation is reshaping industries.  So why do some business leaders settle for an ineffective technology leader that can drag down their operations and the competitive position of their entire company? The common misconceptions and justifications often heard are:

1. “This is all we can afford right now...” or “We can’t afford a higher-caliber CIO”: Actually, you can’t afford to settle for the current state and the associated risks.  For better results and significantly lower costs, look beyond the traditional staffing approach.  There are new approaches and better ways to engage the top technology leadership talent.  A fractional CIO/vCIO/contracted technology leader is an excellent option, especially for small and mid-market companies, and the savings is typically more than $100,000/year versus the traditional staffing approach.   An accomplished, fractional CIO provides the company with proven, prime technology leadership that is tailored to your specific needs and budget. 
2. “Right now, isn’t a good time for making a change”:   There will never be an ideal time for a change, and every day that passes is another potential misstep and the organization will fall further behind. Take action today to get the organization back on the right track.
3. “We don’t have time for a lengthy recruiting process”:  As noted in the previous point, there are options available that will provide a great, proven technology leader onsite and helping your company within just a few days, instead of the typical 2-6 months recruiting process.
4.  “We have tried others, and they didn’t work well either”:  Don’t settle, your technology is too important of a business function to settle for less.  If something is wrong with your past approach, it’s time to identify the issues and try a better way.   

An independent, comprehensive review of the company’s technology organization will provide valuable insight into the gaps, hidden issues, root causes, technology leadership effectiveness and potential risks of the current state.  Successful companies have engaged excellent technology leaders, and you can too once you have the right plan of action and a better approach.

For more than thirty years I have served both as the CIO/CTO that’s leading the technology organization, and I’ve also served as a global technology advisor to CEOs that are seeking to transform their under-performing technology organization.  Business leaders often know that they need more from their technology organization, and they are looking for the right place to start the improvements. 

Having reviewed many technology organizations over the years, the common finding is great technology leaders produce great technology organizations, and an ineffective technology leader will produce a struggling, ineffective technology organization.  Just as great companies have great CEOs, the same is true for great technology teams being led by great CIOs.
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If your company is struggling with your technology, it’s time to review the technology organization and it's leadership.  Regardless of the size of your company, your organization must have the right technology leadership, and there are new, excellent, affordable options available.  Don’t settle for less, and don’t let traditional thinking get in the way of success.