"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," 

In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Juliet expresses that a name is inconsequential, and the true essence of something remains unchanged regardless of its label. 

Juliet was never a CIO.

And as much as I love the movie Braveheart, and this quote from it - “Men don’t follow titles, they follow courage,” William Wallace needs to walk a little more carefully in that kilt of his.

Most people who tell you that your title doesn’t matter likely have a title they are unwilling to give up for a lesser designation.

There is nothing wrong with having the title of IT Director if it accurately reflects your role. As a matter of fact, you want the title if you are primarily operational and tactical, working with infrastructure maintenance, support, staff and vendor management, and policy implementation. It’s a great title for reasons we will cite below. 

But if you are a technology strategist, working with the business on alignment, fueling innovation, digital transformation, vision, and cross-department collaboration, and you are exercising executive leadership, then you must press for the CIO title.

What’s Your Name Again?

Here are five quick reasons your title needs to reflect your work:

Relational facing. Your title serves other people. When interacting with vendors, clients, or partners, a  title can provide instant authority. People are more likely to take your directives seriously and prioritize your requests.

Recruiting and retention. Senior titles help attract higher-caliber candidates when you're hiring. Top-tier talent often looks for a clear, structured org chart with experienced leadership.

Resume reception. If you're ever looking for a new role, your title will be a key filtering factor in recruiter and Applicant Tracking Systems. 

Revenue opportunities. Regarding CIOs, a company that appoints a CIO shows it values technology as a strategic asset rather than a support function. That can help in branding, investor relations, and industry recognition.

Responsibility and expectations. Without an accurate title, there's misalignment within, and, from others, misunderstanding of what you do.

Most Importantly

Identity matters. 

Your identity matters.

Doing flows from being. A title rightly conferred is a matter of honor. Titles recognize who you are by nature and what you do by skill and growth. 

Downplaying your title insults your identity.  Though you may stand for it in your place of work, you won’t stand for it in your personal depth. Eventually, your soul will complain. 

Of priority importance to me is the work I do, the influence I have, and the effectiveness I bring. 

And I have corrected people who tried to saddle me with a title that wasn’t true. The word or words that follow “I am” is crucial. I don’t just do __. I am __.

When people call you less than you are, they cheapen you. 

When you stop being who you are, you cheapen yourself.

I have a friend who was recently given a promotion and new job title. He turned it down. The title was less than he is. 

I asked him, “You are going to give up a promotion and a salary increase over a title?”

“Yes,” he said. 

Fortunately, the company wanted him enough to renegotiate the title. 

What’s in a name?

Dignity.

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