C-Suite Blind Spot – CIO – CISO - CHRO Collaboration in a Remote & Hybrid World Value & Challenges

Blind Spot

The increased frequency of cyber security threats, the hybrid workplace, commentaries around diversity, employee wellbeing and mental health. Changing technological requirements, redefining roles and responsibilities, determining and adjusting for human capital needs are all topics currently circulating in the C-Suite. These hot topics are not only critical, they are also core to business success for corporations. These critical topics all fall within the purview of CIOs, CISOs and CHROs.

It is a reality that corporations are having to function in an ever changing and evolving pandemic landscape with an unpredictable timeline. This is forcing business and business structures to adapt quickly, evolve rapidly and develop new approaches to optimize productivity. Can a combined effort among the CIO, CISO and CHRO be favorable to increase optimization in the current corporate environment? How can the C-Suite benefit from such a collaboration?

Illumination

The Gartner 2019 CEO Survey showed that based on CEO talent and data needs, it’s time for CIO’s and CHRO’s to combine efforts to form an alliance and collectively drive corporate talent management efforts. Additionally, in the pre-pandemic 23rd PwC 2020 Global CEO Survey, CEO’s identified cyber threats and the availability of key skills as two of the top 6 concerns held, behind economic uncertainty and trade conflicts.

The combined findings of both CEO surveys and unexpected needs created by the pandemic demonstrates that collaboration between these teams is strategically vital to companies as they navigate this changing landscape.

Successful collaboration of this C-Suite trio that have traditionally operated in silos rests both with the CEO’s ability to foster engagement among them and their ability to find cohesiveness in pursuing a common goal through:

· Prioritizing objectives and operating under a single playbook

· Maintaining frequent and transparent communication

· Developing a team dynamic that is accountable, flexible, empathetic and respectful

· Being accountable and championing departmental initiatives to achieve organizational objectives

Most of my accomplishments have been win or lose situations. For me, second place was not an option. My key to success was to assemble a diverse team of specialized individuals who were experts in their fields. Together, we were able to develop strategies that helped me to identity, address and eliminate my “blind spots”. Executives may want to approach their blind spots similarly.

When winning or losing are the only two choices, build a team and choose to win.