There are many ways for IT professionals to get advice, knowledge, and insights. Books, articles, conferences, consultants, and advisory firms are the most common. I use all these methods to round out my knowledge. You obviously believe in the importance of learning; you're reading a book right now.
Above all of these, the best advice comes from your peer network. Who better to steer you to the best solution than the person who has successfully completed the project you are contemplating?
I work hard to nurture my network. I do this by attending conferences, speaking at events, and following up with the people I meet. Providing useful content is an important aspect of networking.
Even competitors will gain more from collaborating than from secret-keeping. As a CIO, be well-versed in what you should and shouldn't say publicly. Meet with your investor relations team and your public relations team. They will coach you on speaking externally. If you work at a public company, be intimately familiar with your quarterly reports. Mimic what your CEO and CFO have said publicly. This keeps you out of trouble and in lockstep with the company's official position.
“All of us are smarter than any one of us.”29 When we combine our collective knowledge, insights, and experiences, we all grow together.