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"With great power comes great responsibility" - Voltaire
As a CTO, mastering effective communication and building strong relationships with key stakeholders is paramount to success. Effective collaboration with other C-level board members enables you to leverage their expertise and insights. Each executive brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the table, and by working together, you can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience.
This chapter delves into the essential skills and strategies every CTO needs to cultivate to forge solid connections with their CEO and CFO. It explores aligning technology vision with organizational objectives, and effectively translating technical concepts into business terms.
Building a solid relationship with your CEO is a journey that requires dedication, collaboration, and continuous improvement. It requires consistent communication, transparency, and reliability. One way to demonstrate trustworthiness is by following through on commitments and delivering high-quality work. Another way is by being honest and upfront about any challenges or setbacks that may arise.
Building trust with your CEO is essential to a successful working relationship. It requires consistent communication, transparency, and reliability. Demonstrate trustworthiness by following through on commitments and delivering high-quality work. Be honest and upfront about any challenges or setbacks that may arise.
Understand and sympathize with your advancing CEO's primary goals and how they align with your technology vision and strategy. This requires a deep understanding of your CEO's vision and priorities and the ability to identify and prioritize their goals. Actively listen to your CEO and ask strategic questions.
“A CEO's job is to always be in motion, to always be looking for the next opportunity." - Richard Branson
Consistently manage and align your mutual expectations by having open and honest conversations with your CEO about what is feasible and what is not. There is no such thing as bad news. Owning the problem, presenting the information without emotion or blame, and standing as a team will help you navigate challenges in keeping your relationship with the CEO trustworthy.
Clear and effective communication with your CEO is crucial for a successful working relationship. It's important to establish open lines of communication from the start and to be transparent about your goals and expectations. Speak the language of leadership.
You may encounter different types of CEOs and their challenges. But not all CEOs are created equal. Some come from a non-technical background, while others think they know more than they do.
Non-technical]: Dismissing a non-technical CEO is easy, but they should be taken seriously. They may need a handle on the technology but understand its importance to the customer. And then there are those CEOs who think they know technology but don't. It's up to you to educate them and help them understand the complexities of your work.Technical]: The one who speaks your language and understands the challenges you face. But even they can forget some day-to-day challenges and quickly dismiss them as unimportant. It's up to you to remind them of the importance of your work and how it contributes to the company's success.And then there are the rare few who truly understand the technical side of things. Translate complex technical concepts into clear, inspiring terms that resonate with the CEO. Your ability to bridge the tech-business gap can foster unparalleled collaboration.
Regular bilateral meetings with the CEO are an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your strategy and expertise. These conversations can be incredibly insightful and help you identify any changes that need to be made to your system to align with the company's long-term plans. By keeping these meetings on a regular schedule, you can build a strong relationship with your CEO and develop a deep understanding of their vision.
[Narcism]: Be aware that there is strong correlation between being a successful founder and having narcissistic personality traits. Narcissists have an inflated sense of self-importance and think of themselves as superior to others. As an entrepreneur, you need to have confidence in your vision and be able to convince others to believe in it too. The belief themself is what keeps them going in tough times and helps you create a unique product or service.
Founders with narcissistic traits refuse to be sidetracked by distractions and setbacks because they believe that they are the best, which can be advantageous in the competitive world of entrepreneurship. Narcissism is often associated with a willingness to take risks, because narcissists tend to be impulsive and make quick decisions. However, this can also be a double-edged sword and can result in poor decision making if not kept in check.