What Does a Chief of Staff Do? Complete Guide
The Chief of Staff is the CEO's strategic right hand - a force multiplier who drives execution, manages cross-functional initiatives, and ensures leadership priorities become reality. Here's exactly what they do.
The Short Answer
A Chief of Staff is a senior leader who works directly with the CEO to drive strategic priorities, lead cross-functional projects, and ensure the executive team operates effectively. Think of them as the CEO's "operating system" - handling what needs to get done so the CEO can focus on what only they can do.
Core Chief of Staff Responsibilities
While the role varies by company, these six areas form the foundation of what most Chiefs of Staff do:
Strategic Planning
Partnering with the CEO to define company strategy, set priorities, and ensure alignment across the organisation
Project Leadership
Leading high-priority, cross-functional initiatives that don't fit neatly into any single department
Executive Communication
Preparing board materials, investor updates, and all-hands presentations on behalf of leadership
Meeting Facilitation
Running leadership team meetings, ensuring decisions are made and follow-ups are tracked
Stakeholder Management
Acting as a bridge between the CEO and internal teams, board members, and external partners
Operational Excellence
Identifying and solving operational bottlenecks that slow down company execution
A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
No two days are alike, but here's a typical day showing the variety of the role:
Review overnight emails and flag urgent items for CEO
Executive team standup - facilitate agenda and capture actions
Work on Q2 board presentation with Finance and Strategy teams
1:1 with Head of Product on cross-functional initiative blockers
Lunch with new VP hire - help with onboarding and context
Lead project review for company-wide OKR process
Prep CEO for investor call - briefing doc and talking points
Handle urgent issue: key customer escalation requiring CEO involvement
End-of-day sync with CEO - debrief and plan tomorrow
Chief of Staff vs Executive Assistant vs COO
Understanding how the Chief of Staff role differs from similar positions:
| Aspect | Chief of Staff | Executive Assistant | COO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Strategy & execution | Administrative support | Day-to-day operations |
| Reports To | CEO directly | CEO or CoS | CEO or Board |
| Team Management | Sometimes (small team or none) | Rarely | Large teams |
| Decision Authority | Advisory, delegated decisions | Limited | Full operational authority |
| P&L Responsibility | Project-based | None | Full departmental |
| Typical Background | Consulting, banking, operations | Administrative, executive support | Operations, GM track |
Skills Required to Be a Chief of Staff
Hard Skills
- ✓Strategic analysis - synthesising complex information into actionable insights
- ✓Project management - driving initiatives from concept to completion
- ✓Financial literacy - understanding P&L, budgets, and business metrics
- ✓Executive communication - writing board decks, investor memos, all-hands
Soft Skills
- ✓Influence without authority - getting things done across teams
- ✓Discretion - handling confidential information with absolute trust
- ✓Adaptability - context-switching between strategic and tactical work
- ✓Ego-free leadership - making the CEO and team successful, not yourself
Who Hires Chiefs of Staff?
The Chief of Staff role has expanded dramatically from its origins in government and military to become a critical position across the private sector. Today, you'll find Chiefs of Staff at:
High-Growth Startups
Series A-C companies where the CEO needs leverage to scale. Often first CoS hire.
Private Equity Portfolio
PE-backed companies use CoS to drive value creation initiatives and operational improvements.
FTSE 100 / Large Enterprise
Supporting CEOs and divisional leaders in complex, matrixed organisations.
Family Offices & Foundations
Managing diverse interests and coordinating across multiple entities.
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