This book will provide real IT examples, templates and resources for an IT professional to grow his or her ability in order to positively influence the people that define the IT leader's role. An IT leader must be a relationship manager, building solid patterns of communication with and between the CIO, the business customers and the technical staff. The authors explain the core competencies: Awareness, Performance, Improvement and Transformation. These competencies were developed through market research surveys and with the help of an advisory panel consisting of industry experts, such as Edward Yourdon and Naomi Karten, as well as IT business leaders from companies like Nike, Eli Lilly, Clarian, Hospitals, Staples, Bank One, Northeast Utilities and 3M. The material used in this book was developed by an expert advisory panel and is used in the Russel, Martin and Associates iLeadership programs.