Biggest CIO asset: Sales prowess

Here's a pop quiz: Exactly what does a CIO do? You may have read the many job descriptions about what this top IT exec is supposed to do, but it may depend on the size of the IT shop or the type of company.

There are a whole lot of "chiefs" out there who never dip their toe in areas that would make their job sing. A recent column from StorefrontBacktalk explains that the most important characteristic for a CIO these days is to be a good sales person, convincing those around and above him or her exactly what is needed for the IT shop at this moment in time.

"Knowing technology is basically the entrance fee. I strongly believe that project management is the number-one skill to get you into middle management (manager and director) and that sales is the number-one skill to get you into an executive position," writes Todd L. Michaud on StorefrontBacktalk.com.

"My advice to anyone looking to climb the ladder: Use multiple ladders. Make sure that you spend time managing projects and being involved in sales and marketing," he adds.

The bottom line: No one knows how to do your job better than you do. Just be flexible about it and ready to try new things at all times.

For more on how to be a CIO:
- see this Storefrontbacktalk.com article

Related Articles:
Should CIOs blog?
Mistakes CIOs make when managing vendors
The best paid CIOs