Goal Alignment and Awareness

One of the more challenging responsibilities a leader has is connecting the day-to-day tasks of the team with the goals of the organization. This is particularly important in IT departments, where “keeping things running” can sometimes be so time-consuming that there seems to be no time for visionary ideas. If a CTO does not come up for air once in a while, and assess how time is being used, it is easy to slip into putting out fires and forget to focus on the vision of the organization.

A key way that a CTO can make sure that the IT team is working towards the goals of the organization is to, first and foremost, have a solid understanding of the goals. Beyond attending meetings that address organizational-wide goals or reviewing goal-setting documents, having cross-departmental relationships can contribute to a CTO’s street-level understanding of goals and objectives to better position the IT department to help meet those goals.

After a CTO absorbs all this information, taking time to step back and reflect is incredibly important. It takes time and awareness to make connections between a team’s work and goals. Periodically, a CTO should block off a significant chunk of uninterrupted time to reflect and think, preferably away from the office. It is through this quiet time spent in reflection that a CTO can become clear about vision and direction, and lead an effective team with focused purpose.

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