Many experienced IT leaders struggle to secure CIO roles not due to lack of skills but because they operate as order takers rather than strategic business influencers. Successful CIO candidates shift focus from technology delivery to driving business outcomes, build relationships beyond IT, communicate business value effectively, lead decisively amid uncertainty, develop replaceable teams, understand industry nuances, and tell compelling stories that connect technology to organizational impact. Adopting these behaviors before earning the title is critical, as organizations tend to promote those who already act like CIOs.
https://www.cio.com/article/4159338/7-reasons-you-keep-getting-passed-over-for-cio.html