Being a chief of staff is a demanding yet rewarding role. It requires exceptional interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and operational driving to ensure that the CEO's vision is implemented. To be successful in this position, you need to have a master's degree in business administration (MBA) or a related field, and several years of executive-level experience in corporate environments. Attention to detail and integrity are also essential qualities for this job.
The State of the Chief of Staff in Technology (202) report provides valuable insights into the role of a chief of staff. It is compiled from ideas from a survey of 25 chiefs of staff. The report highlights that chiefs of staff are renowned for their attention to detail and they do their best to organize tasks in an orderly manner and then make sure that all projects are delivered efficiently. The duties of the chief of staff include collaborating with the CEO and sometimes acting as a delegate.
Chiefs of staff often act as facilitators between different teams, making sure that all parties communicate and work together to achieve the same objectives. A chief of staff deals with many of the organization's most difficult issues, but he rarely takes credit for his accomplishments. Chiefs of staff are experts at prioritizing competing and often conflicting objectives, allowing them to optimize limited resources and capital. A chief of staff ensures that the executive focuses on making sound decisions on the elements most critical to the team and the organization.
To help you succeed in these types of roles, learn the content and functioning of the organization so that you can filter information in order to respond appropriately and take proactive and strategic measures. If you think that your company needs a chief of staff and that person should be you, you may also have to be the one to suggest it. Remember that every employer is different and each one will have unique qualifications when they hire you for a chief of staff position. You may not make the right decision 100% of the time. They selected you for the position because they are confident that you will make the right decisions most or most of the time. Working well as part of a team will help you succeed in your career as a chief of staff, especially since you'll have to collaborate with other executives from all departments to implement the CEO's vision.
