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Tarun Jauhari,
Director,
First Advantage Offshore Services
A CIO should demonstrate the ability to influence key decisions and have the capability to think laterally to accomplish key goals. In an organization like ours with a matrix structure, it is critical for the leader to be well respected within the organization.
Also, the CIO/CTO has to be "Big Thinker" who should be able to look ahead and understand how technology can be used by the business to:
a) act as an enabler for new lines of business
b) not only enable cost savings but by effective use of technology also help in increasing revenues
c) see what and where the market is going, especially a competitor's attempts to disrupt or dislodge the company's market position
To be able to perform such activities, the person should be able to identify new technologies, drive business strategy, be able to leverage technology across various business units and enhance communication and collaboration both internally as well as with clients.
Most organizations/business leaders are ready to delegate responsibility but are rarely able to effectively delegate authority. The key to building successful leaders is to delegate such authority, encourage individuals and give them the confidence to independently make decisions and demonstrate trust in the decisions that they may make.
As cliché as the statement "Training is critical to our organization's growth" may sound, I cannot overstate the importance of having structured training for people at all levels within the organization. In the IT world where the only thing constant is change itself, it is imperative for individuals to keep abreast of improvements in the industry as well as re-tool / re-skill themselves with the changing times and needs.
My principle has always been to do things differently and make the work place a fun place to be. It is important to build passion in the workplace and we do everything we can to make people feel that this is the place where they belong. I have built a transparent and friendly work culture which is based on trust and caring to personnel issues.
Giving people the space they need to grow, and think freely has been a critical success factor. Also, fostering an "I am OK you are OK" model of workmanship has helped people build a healthy working relationship within the organization and develop trust in each other's ability.
Top 5 management tips:
- Trust your leaders and give them an opportunity to make decisions and allow mistakes if it happens
- Delegate authority and not responsibility as this allows for ownership
- Don't work in the "my way or highway" mode and encourage people to share their opinions and give it a proper hearing
- Be a mentor more than a manager; this does not mean making somebody else's problem yours but understanding issues help in effectively dealing with them
- As much as possible try and communicate the reasons behind your decisions especially if they are unpalatable to the larger group. This helps people to better understand the rationale behind the decision making process and help build trust
-------------------------- As told to Sonal Desai
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