article thumbnail

A Consultant’s Guide to Difficult Client Feedback

Harvard Business Review

During one of my very first consulting assignments, a colleague and I interviewed direct reports of the Chief Information Officer of a chemical company about improving project execution. We consistently heard that the CIO was autocratic and intimidating, and that his people were afraid to talk openly about mistakes.

CIO 8
article thumbnail

Are We Asking Too Much of Our CIOs?

Harvard Business Review

But too many organizations are stretching their Chief Information Officers (CIO) too thin. Research focused on the careers of 14 highly successful CIOs found that, beyond the skills needed by all C-level executives (an extensive network, emotional intelligence, leadership, etc.), focus and vision.

CIO 8