Earlier this week, I learned that you are not being regarded as well as I like to see.

According to the IBM Institute for Business Value, the percentage of CEOs who say that IT is effective at delivering basic technology services has declined in ten years from 64% to 36%.

Surprisingly, tech leaders agreed, declining from 69% ten years ago to 47% today.

Why do you think this is?

Among the reasons, one stands out for sure: Overwhelm. The overwhelm of work to be done, the overwhelm of options to choose, the overwhelm of misinformation, the overwhelm of budget constraints, the overwhelm of talent competition. 

Overwhelm is real. As is a lack of education.

Executives need clarity on what they hear about but know so little about (think AI).  Employees need direction on what they can or cannot due (shadow IT, security vulnerabilities). Customers need confidence that the solution offered solves the actual problem.. 

How do we combat a lack of knowledge and a load of exhaustion?

Four Words We Think We Understand Because We Are So Tired Of Hearing Them

Vision. Collaboration. Measurement. Integration.

We cast a vision when we should query about the vision.

We scratch the surface of business needs when we need to plunge into business opportunities.

We measure accomplishments when we need to measure outcomes and value.

We build at points of need when we need to immerse technology at every place in the organization.

Technology isn’t isolated; it  powers a reimagined business. That requires diving into more rather than assuming that vision, collaboration, measurement and integration have been accomplished.

Part of the confidence loss over the years is IT being evaluated on “What have you done for me?” rather than “What are you doing with me?”

The first key in regaining confidence is moving from being a key contributor to being the Prime Navigator. Know the outcome, guide the way.

Five Results That Garner Lasting Credibility (IBM Study)

Growing Revenue

Increasing Production

Securing Applications and Data 

Innovating Service

Aligning Business

These five mark the effectiveness of CIO leadership today. So, the second key to regaining confidence is that you are a Lead Hitter. Step up to the plate. Knock it out of the park. 

Overwhelm and lack of knowledge (either ignorance or misinformation) erode at confidence levels, yours and theirs.

You know that you need to ring the cash register, produce, secure, innovate and align. You get it.

And you need to do so with leaders and not just for leaders. 

The last sentence is still your biggest challenge and your biggest opportunity.

Your executive team wonders How technology serves them. But they still don’t understand AI, let alone new horizons in computing and human-machine co-action.

You need to know What they want and Why they want it . Then you can explain, explore and educate on How to get there.

There has never been a greater time for confidence in technology. Or in you. 

Confidence is the product of what I call Near Leadership. You get alongside (to focus and to educate) to help others get ahead.