Career builder advice for CIOs

Senior executives "want a seasoned, savvy, business-focused IT leader who is respected as a business peer first and a technology expert second," said Steven Kendrick, a consultant at Chicago-based executive search firm Spencer Stuart.

IT consultants offer the following career builder advice to CIOs looking to sharpen their skills:

Popular misconceptions

A common mistake by CIOs is not realizing the importance of communication and interpersonal skills, Kendrick said. "If they can't build relationships internally, they will fail."

Another mistake is feeling they need to inst

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all cutting-edge technologies. "CIOs should be judged by whether a technology solves a problem, and not whether it's on the bleeding edge," Miller said.

While it's important to know the latest technology trends, some CIOs try to stay current with the latest certifications and tech skills when they don't have to, Schor said. "If the CIO concentrates on broader business and leadership skills, they can hire people who can stay up on the technology."

Career builder tips

CIOs can take their careers down many paths: They can stay where they are, become CIO at larger companies or move up the corporate ladder to other C-level positions, such as chief executive officer or chief operating officer. Here are five tips for CIOs to reach their goals: Wylie Wong is a freelance technology writer based in Phoenix.

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