There's always room for improvement in communication skills, no matter what roles in an organization we play, and CIOs are no exception. Conventional wisdom has it that the profession has come a long way in its capacity for negotiation, presenting business cases and building consensus. But it is still possible to fall into some old traps, reports CIO's Meridith Levinson. She outlines 10 errors that are all too common.

Some of the obvious communication traps include using jargon or technical language around people who don't understand it, acting as a cheerleader for technology and using scare tactics to win people over.

There are some less obvious pitfalls to be avoided, however, such as failing to ask questions for fear of appearing uninformed, and--believe it or not--relying too heavily on facts in making a pitch.

Overly analytical presentations can fail to leave a positive impression because an "emotional connection" is needed to spur action, according Abbie Lundberg, president of the consultant firm Lundberg Media. Lundberg recommends that CIOs "tell a story and capture the imagination of the people they're trying to convince."

For more:
- see Meridith Levinson's article at CIO

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