Advice Line | Bob Lewis | InfoWorld | A CIO who isn't compatible with the central office | August 31, 2007 05:31 AM

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A CIO who isn't compatible with the central office

August 31, 2007 | Comments: (0)

A CIO who isn't compatible with the central office

Dear Bob ...

I'm not really looking for advice. Or maybe I am, if you have any.

My management style, if you will, was considered completely unacceptable by our Corporate Office. I have since been in a "lengthy transition" so that they can rid themselves of my influence and bring on a new IT Manager who is a bit more, ohhh, let's say, conformative - without losing the brain trust they so desperately need.

I have the distinct feeling that my particular breed is dying quickly here. It's truly a shame.

- Vanishing

Dear Vanishing ...

Well, you sort of asked for advice, and since I'm in the advice business …

In your situation, one of two conditions was possible. It's probably too late at this stage; if so, take this for what it's worth:

Either there's an approach to running IT that works for both you and the corporate office, or there isn't. From your brief description, I'm guessing the folks in the C.O. didn't have a lot of interest in spending time with you to figure out what that might look like. That put the ball in your court.

I'm not a big fan of lengthy transitions. It was up to you to work with the C.O. to either figure out how to make things work or to make other arrangements for yourself. I doubt you'll look back at the transition period and consider it one of the more rewarding times in your career, after all.

And, from a career perspective, so long as you work for them they are your customer - they make the buying decision about the services you personally deliver (which is to say, they decide to pay you to run IT for them).

So in the end it's like any other supplier/customer relationship. Their responsibility is to make clear what they want you to deliver. Yours is to decide whether you're interested in delivering it.

It sounds like you've already been through that thought process and have decided you aren't. So my advice is to implement that decision. That doesn't mean resigning right away. It means accelerating your search for a more compatible customer.

- Bob

Posted by Bob Lewis on August 31, 2007 05:31 AM

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COMMENTS

It does sound a bit too late in this situation, but one thing that helped me quite a bit was the ability to change my management style to reflect the overall corporate culture. It's much, much easier to do so if it fits with your natural personality, but not impossible if it doesnt. Aligning yourself takes time, but can be extremely beneficial, career-wise.

Posted by: anon at September 5, 2007 09:38 AM

I believe I've been there: the company and I were diverging in philosophy, methods and long-term viability. I saw the writing on the wall, and made my plans for a break, generously making it easy for them. Along with helping them save face and transition smoothly, it didn't burn bridges. That proved useful a few years later when they inquired (after some distasteful characters had left) whether I was interested in contracting or helping them with some long term work, which was much more in keeping with my tastes. That was ten years back and we are still helping each other profitably. I opt for making it graceful and mutually beneficial.

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