There are several platforms that offer opportunities for CIOs to connect by region or industry. Which ones do you find more valuable and what’s missing in the market?
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I agree. For example, after one of my board meetings, I ran into one of my trusted friends and asked for his opinion on a security update I was planning to present to the board. He confirmed that I was on the right track. People in our circle, who have done that before, are more than willing to share their experiences and insights as long as it's not giving up a competitive advantage. Even competitors, I believe, have boundaries. What's yours is yours.<br><br>
This is a complex topic. Everyone has their own way of collaborating, and I don't think there's a universal right or wrong way. What's important is figuring out what's right for you. COVID has certainly shifted the balance and highlighted the value of virtual meetings. It's surprising to see that the people you believe are your trusted network may not always be the ones you end up trusting the most.
In terms of platforms, I find the insights provided by Gartner's peer network quite valuable. I use it quite a bit. However, there's room for improvement. It would be nice if the platform could ask a couple of questions and then recommend content based on your responses. That would be a great value-add.
Trust is built through frequent interactions. This is how communities develop. While it's not feasible to have one-on-one interactions all the time, especially in larger groups, having a small committed group of 5 to 10 people can be very effective.
It's important not to underestimate others. Everyone has their own skills and we should respect that. We should be open to learning from each other, even if the questions seem basic or simple.
Building relationships before you need them is crucial. At our university, the Deans and Vice Presidents get together socially once a month. It's much easier to ask for support when you have a personal connection. I try to do the same with my employees. It's easier to assign tasks and understand their career aspirations when you know them as individuals.
In my opinion, the market is actually oversaturated. There are almost too many choices. For instance, Jay mentioned a whole bunch and he didn't even mention SIM. HMG aligns with SIM here in Southern California. Our chapter has 360 members, so there's no shortage of somebody in SIM that I could reach out to at any time.
What's crucial for these platforms to work effectively is the need to build a community. Within this community, there have to be people that we trust and a safe space for interaction. We need people who are in the same boat as us, making the same decisions that we have to make day-to-day. The community is all about safe information exchange. It's about knowing who to go to for help, who can assist with strategy and vision, and vice versa. In a community, everybody gives and you shouldn't be able to get if you don't give. It doesn't matter what that forum is at this point.