CEO as barrier session at 08NTC

OK, so Marnie Webb from TechSoup hosted the session on changing CEO from Barrier to Partner at the recent NTC hosted by NTEN. WOW what is it an awesome session or what!?!?

Here are some deep thoughts and ideas from it:

• Get leadership to make the management decision you want them to, not the tech decision you will make. For example ask them to approve a tech security strategy, not which firewall to buy. Or ask them to approve a desktop refresh strategy, not which desktop to buy. Etc.
• Look for ways to have a personal relationship with CEO, non work topic, talk about kids, interests outside of work. Make leadership see you as a person, not just a freaky techie!
• Understand the pressures being put on a CEO by the board
• CEO's dont see themselves as barriers and that is not their goal. They just may not understand tech and need to be diligent.
• Always start a conversation with the problem you are trying to fix, not the solution you are trying to get.
• Ask for a specific budget that includes a variance, show that you have researched options, risks, etc.

There was a lot more and I know that Marnie is working on sharing more notes from her session, but these were some biggies that jumped out at me.