President's message: The "Circle of IT Trust"
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In the hilarious movie "Meet the Parents," Ben Stiller is Greg Focker and Robert Deniro is Jack, the father of Greg’s girlfriend. Jack teaches Greg about the Byrne’s family circle of trust throughout the movie:
Jack: But the fact is, Greg, with the knowledge you've been given, you are now on the inside of what I like to call ... "the Byrnes family circle of trust." I keep nothing from you, you keep nothing from me ... and round and round we go.
Jack: See, if I can't trust you, Greg, then I have no choice ... but to put you right back outside the circle. And once you're out, you're out. There's no coming back.
Greg: Mm, well, I would definitely like to stay inside the circle.
As leaders of Information Technology in our agencies, we need to establish the Circle of IT Trust!
In the "Circle of IT Trust," we strive to leverage, deliver and support technology across the enterprise and meet the technology needs of our elected officials, director’s users, staff and citizens. Within the circle there is integration, collaboration, communication, trust and support of not only IT, but those of us in IT leadership positions. Building and sustaining the "Circle of IT Trust" is critical to our survival and ability to successfully complete our mission year after year.
When we maintain equilibrium within the circle, we have the best opportunity to be given needed resources and authority to do all we do. If we fail to maintain equilibrium within the circle, we run the risk that those we serve will step out of the circle in frustration and lose trust not only in IT, but us as IT leaders. When this happens in the worst situations, we too are likely to be pushed outside the circle and eventually pushed out the door.
I have spent over a quarter of century in my position at Portage County as CIO/IT Director, and I credit my tenure and survivability to building and maintaining the "Circle of IT Trust"! My biggest headaches and threats occur when I fail to devote my full attention and resources within the circle.
Kudos to you if you have built and nutured a "Circle of IT Trust" within your organization! If the idea of the "Circle of IT Trust" is new to you, give it all you have and reap the immeasurable benefits of circle life in IT and all that it offers!
Brian D. Kelley, CGCIO
President
GMIS International
