The chief of staff (COS) is an executive role that is essential to the management and executive team of a company. This position requires strong leadership, communication, organizational and decision-making skills. The COS is responsible for helping their boss oversee the operations of a company, identifying and prioritizing important conversations and activities throughout the year. This role is especially important in government agencies, holding companies with large and complex portfolios, and companies undergoing organizational changes.
The chief of staff can also help develop leadership skills and establish connections by participating in wide-ranging corporate initiatives such as purpose, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and mental health. They can also help organize the schedule of interactions with the board of directors, contact with investors, customer visits, and staff meetings so that executives are “active when it matters most”. In addition, they should have access to professional development plans and training courses. In short, the chief of staff is an invaluable asset to any executive team, helping executives have more time to think about big decisions and have a reliable sounding board when comparing opinions with facts.
