Focus Areas for CIOs: What Good Looks Like in 2025

The theme is how to be good — to your business, to your people and to yourself.

Defuse uncertainty by focusing on what is constant

In the ebb and flow of global events and changing customer and employee expectations, CIOs can ground themselves by contemplating those elements that don’t change. This can mean reinforcing core competencies, strengthening team connections and even envisioning what type of legacy you want to leave behind.

Challenge yourself to refine both soft and hard skills to stay sharp, strengthen relationships and keep your business secure.

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    Create momentum through intentional action

    Being good reverberates outward. A strong foundation enables meaningful connections that can bolster your business’s stability.

    Take care of business

    Resolve to address business priorities: security, AI and costs.

    • Interview a hacked person. This year, don’t wait for a cyber wake-up call. Instead, sit down with someone who’s experienced a hack, learn their lessons and proactively apply them to protect your business. 

    • Improve your negotiating skills. Adapt your strategies during vendor negotiations to navigate challenges and achieve better outcomes. A dynamic approach can turn stalled talks into success.

    • Take a stand on AI ethics. Observe how AI-powered tools impact employees. Are they creating confusion or challenges? Use these observations to shape your ethical stance.

    Keep an eye on the horizon

    Meetings, politics and business priorities can make it tough to stay abreast of emerging technologies. But understanding the state of emerging technologies should always be a CIO priority. Resolve to stay informed about emerging technologies. Remaining a tech expert will always be a CIO responsibility, no matter what other business demands come to the fore.

    Consider:

    • Scheduling time for hands-on trials or demos

    • Exploring technologies beyond your immediate purview

    • Allocating a small budget for pivotal new technologies

    • Organizing “play sessions” with your IT leadership team to test new tools together 

    By staying curious, connected and forward-thinking, CIOs can make 2025 a year of personal, team and business growth.

    Lead with action

    Resolve to nurture your working relationships:

    • Create a personal user manual. Provide colleagues with a “cheat sheet” on how best to collaborate with you. Share your values, communication style and decision-making process to improve mutual understanding.

    • Lead through movement. Use creative exercises involving physical activity (e.g., dance class, tandem kayaking, escape room challenge) to explore the dynamics between leadership and collaboration.

    • Tap your tech-savvy influencer voice. Build an online presence to establish your personal brand as a tech thought leader. Choose a fresh, engaging online persona and post consistently. Participate in online forums, webinars or podcasts to amplify your influence.

    Focus on your No. 1

    Resolve to avoid burnout by prioritizing your personal needs:

    • Turn regret into growth. Guilt is a heavy load. Break free by identifying a regret and the person it affected. Forgive yourself as you would a friend, then reach out to the individual or confide in someone you trust. Let the lesson guide you forward.

    • Listen to silence. Quiet time allows your mind to recharge. Retreat periodically from the barrage of data to gain a fresh outlook, spark creativity and restore your energy for future challenges.

    • Create a legacy. Fast forward to the day you retire. What will you say about your work? If you’re unsure, take steps now to leave an impact: Elevate those around you, and identify sacrifices worth making to build your legacy

    Drive stronger performance on your mission-critical priorities.