Do you have what it takes to be a manager? Most CIOs know how to run the machinery, but there are people skills that many have missed. In today's business world, firms need CIOs who can be business leaders and partners. And that means it is just as important for you to deal with your staff below you and your supervisors above you. No one ever said that being a CIO was easy. But it has become clear that an executive needs more than just a flow chart to outline who is in charge of a particular service. Today's CIO needs skills that can only be learned on the job as a result of plenty of experience.

Do you know how to motivate a team? And can you motivate yourself? These kinds of skills are not book-taught, and this kind of management technique is becoming more and more important in the workplace. It's up to you to understand your managers, and it is essential to touch base with them and develop their trust. At the same time, they need to feel like they have your trust. Being a CIO means being a constantly moving target. While you may be meeting your milestones, some of the softer skills need as much attention as the targeted ones. Make sure you are a multi-task manager, and people not only like working with you, but that they do the most to get desirable results.

For more on CIO skills:
- See this CIOUpdate article