The Unspoken Expectations

If you’ve ever presented to a board, you’ve felt the pressure. Technology updates that must be clear, credible, and reassuring – all in 20 minutes. But what boards say they want and what they actually want often differ.

In private, directors will ask questions that rarely surface in formal meetings:

• “Do they actually understand the business model?”

• “Are they in control of risk, or just describing it?”

• “Can they prioritise, or do they just want budget?”

• “Will they step up in a crisis?”

Great CIOs don’t just report progress – they demonstrate strategic ownership.

Four Unspoken Board Questions

1. “Is this leader commercial?” Boards want evidence that technology decisions are business decisions – framed in revenue, margin, and risk.

2. “Can we trust their judgement?” When priorities clash, they expect you to know what matters most.

3. “Will they challenge us?” Passive agreement is the fastest way to lose credibility.

4. “Do they simplify or complicate?” Complexity is inevitable, but clarity is a choice.

What Great Tech Leaders Do Differently

• Connect tech to strategy. Every update starts with outcomes, not activities.

• Own risk. Not just cyber, but operational and reputational risk.

• Set boundaries. They say no clearly, early, and with reasons.

• Stay pragmatic. They balance ambition with delivery discipline.

When you consistently bring that posture, your board relationships shift – from scrutiny to partnership.

A Simple Framework

Before any board meeting, ask yourself:

• Relevance: Why does this matter now?

• Impact: What’s the business upside or downside?

• Options: What choices are we presenting?

• Asks: What do we need from the board?

This four-part lens keeps updates sharp, relevant, and outcome-focused.

Who Else Does This Work

Many firms support boards and CIOs in this space, including Egon Zehnder, Spencer Stuart, and Gartner. We respect their insights. At Relentica, our focus is practical preparation and unvarnished coaching – helping tech leaders show up ready to engage as peers.

The Takeaway

Boards don’t want jargon. They want clarity, judgement, and confidence. The strongest CIOs step into that space with courage – and earn trust over time. And remember “Be brief, be bright, be gone.”