The Elastic CIO: Creating Leadership Bandwidth

One of the most consistent pieces of feedback I have heard from CIOs and technology leaders over the years is simple: there is never enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.

When I was a CIO, I struggled with this constantly. Just when I thought I had created some breathing room in my schedule, a new priority would emerge. Now, as a consultant and service provider, I see the challenge from a different perspective. Every week I talk with CIOs who are stretched thin and searching for ways to create more capacity.

To be an elastic technology leader, you need the ability to stretch and take on new challenges without dropping balls or missing commitments. That's difficult when you already feel stretched to your limit.

In 1955, British naval historian C. Northcote Parkinson observed that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." This became known as Parkinson's Law. In other words, under normal conditions, you will never magically find extra time. The same principle seems to apply to closets and garages, but that's a different discussion.

Many CIOs get caught in an unfortunate cycle. They don't have time to be strategic because the immediate tactical needs of the organization always take priority. The tactical work expands to consume all available time. Yet strategic thinking is where CIOs can step back, evaluate priorities, redesign processes, and change how time is spent. Without that time, the cycle simply continues.

Over the years, I've observed several practices that can help break the cycle. Perhaps some of them will resonate with you.

1. Delegate with Purpose

Delegation sends a powerful message: "I trust you." “I have confidence in you”. It creates growth opportunities, builds confidence, and develops future leaders. The key is what you delegate. Don't hand off only the routine work. Delegate meaningful assignments that allow others to contribute, learn, and grow.

2. Be a Nomad

Get out of your office regularly and work somewhere else. A change of scenery can spark fresh thinking and help you escape the constant interruptions of your normal environment. Whether it's home, a library, a coffee shop, or another workspace, breaking the routine can provide the mental reset you need.

3. Focus on What Only You Can Do

Ask yourself a simple question: What does the organization really need from me?

Too often we gravitate toward work we are comfortable doing rather than work that creates the most value. It's easy to spend hours reviewing reports while postponing conversations, relationship-building, and strategic planning. As a CIO, your greatest value increasingly comes from leading people, building partnerships, and shaping direction—not managing tasks.

4. Know Yourself

When are you at your best? Some leaders do their best analytical work early in the morning. Others are more creative later in the day. Pay attention to your own rhythms and schedule your most important work accordingly. Small adjustments can have a surprisingly large impact on productivity.

5. Get a Partner

Sometimes the fastest way to create capacity is to borrow it.

A trusted partner outside your organization can help absorb some of the work that consumes your attention. Researching vendors, reviewing policies, evaluating legislation, analyzing reports, or providing a second opinion can often be delegated to someone who can help you process information more quickly. The goal isn't to avoid the work—it's to create enough space to focus on the leadership work that only you can do.

Creating more bandwidth doesn't mean working longer hours. It means becoming more intentional about how your time is invested.

Think about how you can create more of "you" without snapping your leadership rubber band.