How a Chief of Staff Becomes a Multiplier

I hear the question ‘what exactly does a Chief of Staff do’ frequently. I finally developed a framework that seems to make the role click.

My simplified answer: how a Chief of Staff becomes a multiplier.

A CEO has business units and support functions in their purview. Each group has its own priorities and processes.

The CEO is the only one responsible for the entire system of people, processes, communications, and collaboration.

The bigger the business, the more complex this system becomes.

A Chief of Staff steps in to manage and improve the ecosystem in its entirety. They identify problem areas and rally support for changes. They continually listen for feedback and implement improvements. They make the system work for everyone.

The end result:
-> an operating system that runs smoothly
-> a leadership team that collaborates
-> a whole lot less ambiguity across the entire organization

Because the Chief of Staff streamlines how work gets done, the CEO and the leadership team get hours back each week.

These hours translate into more business growth and better results.

This is the multiplier effect.