1)   Realize that the enterprise has choice

2)   Know how your business peers make the money

3)   Know how your enterprise makes money or delivers its mission. 

4)   Recognize that an executive’s number one priority really is #1. 

5)   Know the business need(s) you are addressing

6)   Know the way things get done in the enterprise, the social systems and influence networks

7)   Remember what defines success in the enterprise. 

8)   Realize that when executives can’t see value, the only thing they can manage is cost.  

9)   Realize that when you talk of the ‘Business and IT’ you divide the enterprise

10)  Admit to the fact that there are still IT projects. 

11) Consider that when you tout the hero you tell others that your organization is a zero. 

12) Have confidence in IT’s contribution to enterprise performance.

via gartner