Modern CIOs must develop key soft skills—such as storytelling, stakeholder management, emotional intelligence, negotiation, change leadership, conflict navigation, and adaptability—to effectively lead beyond technical expertise. These skills enable CIOs to communicate complex ideas, align diverse organizational priorities, manage resistance to change, and drive adoption of technology initiatives, with practical experience and deliberate practice being essential for mastery.
https://www.techtarget.com/it-strategy/tip/Top-soft-skills-for-CIOs-and-how-to-get-them