Part I: So, You're Looking for a Chief of Staff...
This is the first part of a two-part series about what the Chief of Staff role entails. You can find the second part at this link!
The role of Chief of Staff (CoS) is having a moment. I keep an eye on business management-related jobs through LinkedIn and it seems like leaders of all sectors, functions, and backgrounds are interested in hiring a Chief of Staff to support their lines of business. Dig into the job reqs, however, and you’ll see such a wide array of responsibilities and tasks that it’s no wonder people feel unclear about the parameters of the role.
Since taking my first corporate CoS role in 2020, plenty of folks have asked me what a Chief of Staff does. Their immediate thoughts usually go to the early-aughts TV show The West Wing, where Chief of Staff Leo McGarry was a critical part of the storyline and, in some ways, put the role on the broader corporate map.
Over the years, I’ve honed my response to this question, keeping it as simple as possible while still encompassing the bigness (I love that word) of the role: “I help run the business, but without the money or the glory.” OK, yes, I say it with humor in my voice and a smile on my face, but it does sum up what it means to be a Chief of Staff. The role is often thankless; in many ways, it stays behind the scenes. But it can be gratifying work, and it’s an incredible hands-on learning opportunity for understanding the inner workings of a business, government office, or non-profit.
OK, Get On With It: the Core of the Role
The core of the role is providing strategic support to a key leader within an organization, whether they’re a member of a business’ C-suite, a government official, or a non-profit leader. A Chief of Staff helps a leader extend themselves into the organization in ways a single person simply can’t. A previous leader I worked with once said a Chief of Staff, for him, would act as his second brain. So, when I say “strategic,” I mean it. This is a high-”braining” role coupled with a whole lot of doing, as well.
To me, a few of the most important and differentiating aspects of the role of a Chief of Staff are being a trusted partner, acting on behalf of their leader, and what I like to call “sitting in the room.”
Being a Trusted Partner
This is possibly the most foundational element of a Chief of Staff’s success. Having a “safe” person to confide in, look to for direct feedback, gain perspective from (especially around team and organizational dynamics and relationships), and discuss important decisions with, can make a major impact on a leader’s effectiveness, longevity, and role satisfaction, which absolutely has an impact on employees and the wider organizational culture.
For employees, having a trusted resource to turn to when they’re unsure about speaking to a leader can help get them through difficult professional and personal moments smoothly and more confidently. Building and maintaining trust and honoring confidentiality, not just with your leader but with every employee you work with, are integral to this role.
Acting on Behalf of Their Leader
This often looks like asking questions their leader would ask, making the kinds of decisions their leader would make that prioritize organizational goals and objectives, and providing strategic input and direction from the perspective of their leader.
Make no mistake, though – while the CoS often represents a leader in conversations, they layer their own insights, perspective, and thinking into their contributions, as well. The mental load for a Chief of Staff includes quickly and fluidly discerning when, where, and how much of their insights and perspective to share in various contexts.
Sitting in the Room
This looks like joining various meetings and conversations across all areas of the business to gain a holistic view of what’s happening. Exercising strong active listening skills–hearing what’s not said as well as what is–is imperative.
I also see “sitting in the room” as an opportunity to create cohesion. When you can see the whole business system, you can see opportunities for greater collaboration and connection where others can’t, identify budding issues that need to be headed off before they turn serious, and ensure closer alignment and a stronger shared focus across departments.
Like most things, Chief of Staff roles are nuanced depending on the type of leader being supported. Their level within the business, the area of the business on which they’re focused, and the sector within which the organization operates all contribute to the specific support needs of a leader. A Chief of Staff to a government official will have some critically different responsibilities than that of a CoS for a private sector tech company leader. A Chief of Staff to a CFO will have some critically different responsibilities from that of a Chief of Staff to a CMO.
But the foundation remains the same. That foundation also contains the key differentiators between a Chief of Staff and a Business Manager, which I’ll talk about in more detail in a separate blog post.
Now, if this resonates with you–if you’re nodding your head and thinking, “Yes, this is what I need”–then it’s highly likely you would benefit from hiring a Chief of Staff. Part II of this series is focused on the more detailed responsibilities and tasks of the CoS role, which will hopefully help you round out your understanding of the job and decide if you’re ready to hire a CoS into your business. Questions or comments? Reach out!
Photo by Brandon Green on Unsplash.
