Why You Need a Chief of Staff (And How it Fits Into Your Executive Team)

Executive time has never been more precious — because there is so little of it to go around.

In the last few years, massive shifts in the corporate climate have made the business of business administration more time-consuming than ever. Between the rise of heavily polarized political dynamics, regulations, and disruptive competitors, executives have limited time to invest in the long-term health and viability of their business.

The result? Most executive teams have more ideas than they have time to implement them.

In an effort to combat this, organizations have realized the need for strategists who exist outside the regular structure and roles of a leadership team. More and more, CEOs are turning to the Chief of Staff (CoS) role — a senior leader that combines strategic planning and laser-focused execution to increase the effectiveness of executive teams.

What is a Chief of Staff (CoS)?

The “Chief of Staff” typically conjures thoughts of government or military organizations — a single individual who reports to the chief executive and mediates their relationship with the rest of the leadership team. These individuals work behind the scenes to solve problems and support coordination between leaders.

In recent years, this role has begun to appear in leadership teams in multinational corporations, helping chief executives scale their capacity and better coordinate the individual functions of their business.

The CoS acts as an extension of the executive they support, managing their short and long-term strategic priorities, communication channels, and critical stakeholders. Done well, they operate at a strategic level, managing critical projects that require close oversight and decision-making.

How Does a Chief of Staff Work?

The reality is — no two CoS roles are exactly the same. This is because of the needs of the organizations, the characteristics of the chief executive, and the ability of the individual serving in the CoS role.

In fact, there is often some confusion between the responsibilities of a CoS and other functions within a business. That’s why it’s often helpful to think about how the CoS compares to other roles. Here are some ways to think about the value they add.

A Chief of Staff is not an executive assistant.

An effective CoS should do more than manage the CEO's calendar and provide a buffer between them and other executives.

A Chief of Staff is not the Chief Operating Officer.

While a COO is responsible for maximizing the effectiveness of the organization as a whole, a CoS is responsible for maximizing the effectiveness of the leadership team. They should avoid being sucked into day-to-day challenges and line-managing operational teams.

A Chief of Staff is not a “go-for”.

They are not a resource to be tapped by any member of the executive team for short-term shifts or passing initiatives.

A Chief of Staff is not a PMO.

Their involvement in a project shouldn’t be based solely on its complexity. Instead, their work should align with the overall value to the business.

Why the Chief of Staff is a Must-have

Most businesses crave flexibility — but adaptability is hard to achieve when most leaders find themselves short of time and resources.

The CoS is a critical role for any business looking to unlock the full potential of their executive team. Since they operative outside of pre-established functions, the CoS has the ability to evolve with the needs of the moment. They provide additional executive-level bandwidth to drive the most innovative projects and support a business's long-term health and productivity.

Interested in exploring how a Chief of Staff role could benefit your business? Contact Tim Hewat at tim.hewat@lhhknightsbridge.com to learn more.

About the author:

Tim Hewat is Head of Executive Search, North America, LHH Knightsbridge. He and his team support Executive Search within the Technology and Digital Transformation Practice, helping clients to find and transition the top leadership talent they need to unlock their full potential.