As CIO how do you “command the room” remotely/virtually?

As CIO, I command the virtual room by establishing clear objectives, communicating concisely, and actively engaging participants. I begin by setting a agenda and defining expected outcomes, ensuring alignment. I capture attention with compelling openings, drive key points through storytelling and data, and foster interaction with direct questions and platform tools like chat and polls. I actively read the virtual room, adapting to engagement levels and ensuring all voices are heard. I conclude meetings decisively with clear takeaways and actionable next steps, followed by strategic follow-ups to reinforce accountability. Effective virtual leadership hinges on deliberate presence, structured communication, and the ability to achieve tangible results, regardless of location.

As a CIO, effectively "commanding the room" virtually demands thorough preparation, clear and inspiring communication, and exemplary mastery of digital tools. I carefully prepare the meeting agenda and anticipate key issues, leveraging my recognized expertise in IT management, particularly in implementing Office 365 and cybersecurity strategies (Zero-Trust, Intune). I fully utilize platform features such as Teams, actively promoting participation and interactions to maintain the attention and engagement of my teams. Through active listening and visible leadership, I value individual contributions while ensuring a clear and effective summary of action items following each meeting, reinforcing my role as a Gartner Peer ambassador and demonstrating my commitment to sharing knowledge within my professional community.

It depends on the room. 

A room full of people who report through to me - by being honest, fair, and transparent. This doesn't mean I wear my heart on my sleeve, just that I treat those with respect and allow people to play to their strengthes. The transparent piece is linked to being prepared to accept you don't have all the answers in the minute. 

A room full of peers or senior execs - by being factual, honest, and fair. Transparency gves way to factual here - you stil might not have all the answers, but you need to know who to go to to source them.

In both instances, what happens outside the room plays a big role as well. People are very quick to pick up when your actions and values are not aligned with how you behave. Wehn people catch you being insincere outside the room is a huge factor in Erosion of trust

Know your materials and your audience.  Get comfortable with uncomfortable silence.  Invite participation where possible. 

I see a few vectors to achieve the goal of "commanding the room" when presenting virtually (i.e., remotely). This requires laying some groundwork. First, define a structured and consistent communications framework for Town Halls, Team Meetings, and 1:1s. Check-ins as part of 1:1s or otherwise, need to be purposeful. Second, use multi-channel communication that is appropriate for your audiences and the messages (e.g., video, written, synchronous, asynchronous). Third, I would recommend creating office hours where people can "drop-in." This should be adapted to the time zones for your Teams. Fourth, master virtual presentations with appropriate lighting, audio equipment, utilization of your virtual presentation tools, and when appropriate, ensure there are means to answer questions. As for presentation techniques, your camera should be at eye level, you should maintain eye contact with the camera, and use deliberate motions to demonstrate energy. For larger meetings (e.g., Town Halls, Team Meetings), consider preparing with trusted team members (e.g., questions, review of content). Fifth, consider what repeatable topic segments can be incorporated into the communications framework (e.g., recognition, demonstrating impact of the changes the team has supported, strategy and performance update, upcoming go-lives). Lastly, consider sharing about your career journey and your take on organization strategies and what it means. Perhaps it goes without saying, but you should be selective in which meetings you attend. Focus on those where you add value.