Opinion: Seven People of Highly Ineffective Habits

Computerworld - Information technology professionals who want to become CIOs sometimes fail to understand a crucial aspect of the job: Besides being the top IT decision-maker, the CIO is a member of the team that plans and signs off on corporate strategy.
There is no clear road map to get you on that executive team, but there are behaviors that will keep you off it. Here are seven IT types who won't make the cut.
Jimmy the Geek is the stereotypical computer nerd, from his pocket protector to his unfashionable haircut. He looks like a cross between McGyver and Inspector Gadget, right down to his Swiss Army Knife, his iPod and the multifunction cellular "thing" hanging from his belt. He speaks an incomprehensible language of gigabytes and wireless protocols.
This is not an image that will get you into the executive suite. Once you're labeled a geek, you're always a geek.
Look to your CFO as a role model. Accounting is a highly technical profession with all kinds of subtle nuances and jargon, but the CFO's focus is always on the business.
Mr. T not only knows everything about technology, he flaunts it. He began strutting his stuff during the '90s, when the dot-com millionaires made technology cool. T's hard work and technical acumen have bought him the good life: gold necklaces, a flashy car, fabulous vacations.
But if you want to get into the executive club, it's better to not be a technology show-off. IT is a support department that enables line managers to achieve sales and profit targets. Become this trusted adviser. If you want to be a hotshot, move into line management.
The Consultant has taken on the language and mannerisms of his hired-gun role models. To make his opinions sound more important, he spices them up with words such as low-hanging fruit, paradigm and quadrants.
It may seem that this kind of language justifies real consultants' fees, but it won't get you into the executive suite. Keep it simple, understandable and down-to-earth.
The Goth tries so hard to prove he's his own man that it hurts. Whether it's the multiple eyebrow rings, the bungee jumping or the fact that he's a practicing Druid, he wears his eccentricities like a badge of honor. He won't back down, and he wants everybody to know it -- every day.
Sure, it's a free country, but remember: It's a club you're trying to get into. People like to feel comfortable with the new members, and how you push the limits will be