The role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has quickly become one of the most integral parts of an organisation, and one which is increasingly having a voice at Board level. Once a role that was purely technology-focused – managing IT infrastructure, ensuringsystem reliability, and keeping the organisation’s technology running smoothly – CIOs now have responsibilities which make them key business drivers, expanding far beyond the tech function.
The role has evolved to become a business enabler, requiring CIOs to be visionary leaders, driving innovation, enabling growth and shaping organisational objectives. Organisations are looking for CIOs who not only understand technology but who can leverage it to establish competitive advantages, optimise operations and drive revenue growth.
Using insights gathered from over 250 UK leaders, we’ve identified seven key skills you need to step up into a CIO role.
As a CIO, you must go beyond the technology function and develop a strong understanding of your organisation’s business model, industry trends and customer needs. Identifying opportunities where technology can be utilised to enhance efficiency and generate revenue is essential to long-term success. By taking a business-focused approach, CIOs can position their organisation for sustained digital transformation and competitive advantage.
By nurturing talent, encouraging adaptability, and leading with vision, you have the ability to build high-performing teams that are capable of driving technological advancements within the organisation. Developing your skills as a people leader is essential for this, it is not enough to have a high level of technical knowledge and expertise. You need to be a skilled people manager and communicator, with the ability to inspire your own team and influence other leaders around the business.
A crucial skill for CIOs is the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business value to secure buy-in from executives, employees and partners. Developing strong stakeholder relationships aids in securing funding, managing expectations, and will foster collaboration across different functions and departments. By articulating the strategic impact of technology and actively engaging with key stakeholders, you can position technology as a driver of innovation and business success.
As a CIO, leading digital transformation is central to your role. Embracing new technologies, integrating data-driven decision-making, and fostering a digital-first culture are essential to sustaining innovation. However. our technology leadership report has reported that many tech leaders are reporting major barriers to digital transformation; the top two identified as legacy systems (23%) and budget constraints (20%).
As a CIO, you need to understand these challenges, and seek out ways to overcome them, whether that be speaking to others that have been through them before, or getting closer to other parts of your business that are dealing with similar issues.
Our Technology Leadership report highlighted cybersecurity and risk management as a top priority for senior leaders. When it comes to challenges when managing cybersecurity risks, respondents highlighted the complexity of threats (26%) and AI-powered threats (21%) as their biggest issues. Therefore, it is vital as a CIO to ensure that robust cybersecurity frameworks are built to protect sensitive data, and that disaster recovery and business continuity data plans are developed to mitigate risks.
Innovation is at the core of the CIO role. So, it is crucial that you champion a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement. Strategic thinking, adaptability and communication are all core to leading innovation and driving change. Your capability to manage these things as a CIO will determine your success in keeping a competitive advantage and meeting business objectives.
In an increasingly data-driven landscape, CIOs must be fluent in interpreting and applying data insights. Data literacy and the ability to make data-driven decisions are crucial for informed decision-making, and being able to do this with agility will ensure that the organisation remains responsive to market shifts. Furthermore, navigating change management effectively as a CIO allows you to guide your teams successfully through digital transformation, better positioning your organisation for long-term success in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
Overall, CIOs are in a unique position to shape the future of their organisation by driving digital transformation and aligning technology with business strategy. Success in this role requires more than just technical expertise – it demands a broader focus on risk management, strategic vision, and strong leadership.
By continuously refining these skills, enabling innovation, and staying ahead of industry trends, you can establish yourself as an indispensable leader and seamlessly make the step up into a CIO role.
