For example, he makes note of which of his direct reports have MBAs and who is studying to earn one. To help these employees along, Schindler says he assigns them projects where they can practice new skills.

Schindler recently assigned one staffer some accounting and strategic planning work after he finished his MBA. "This is an area that wouldn't normally be under his purview, but he was very appreciative for the opportunity," he says.

Schindler even puts himself out there as a mentor, talking to people informally to learn about their work and aspirations.

Such mentoring can be a significant contributor to professional success, according to a 2003 survey conducted by Robert Half Technology, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based provider of IT professional staffing.

The survey polled more than 1,400 CIOs at U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. Fifty-one percent said they benefited from having a mentor at some point in their careers. Meanwhile, 72 percent of those who didn't have a mentor said they felt their advancement would have been easier if they'd had an experienced adviser guiding them.