Parmenio - Chief of Staff

What Does The Chief of Staff Do? Giving The Role Meaning and Purpose

What does the chief of Staff do? When people ask this question they are looking for a sense meaning and purpose? They are looking to make sense of the role. Most people answer this question by using ambiguous terminology which tends to confuse the listener. The objective of this podcast is to articulate a vision of the Chief of Staff role that gives it meaning and purpose. So that people can “make sense” of the role, and understand how it “fits” into the organization. 

 

 

Pulse of the Organization: Building Psychological Safety

CEO’s will often ask their Chief of Staff to help them keep their finger on the “pulse of the organization.” First of all, what does this mean? Secondly, how do you go about doing it? On this episode we explain how you nurture psychological safety in your organization, and how that allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of the organization. First, we define what psychological safety is. Then, we describe four methods that you can use to build psychological safety in your organization. 

Horse And Rider: Building A Foundation of Trust With CEO / Partner

The relationship between horse and rider is a unique and special one. One based on a deep sense of trust. Likewise, the relationship between Chief of Staff and CEO is unique and special. Building a deep foundation of trust is crucial to success. On this podcast we explore three dimensions of trust and how you use those dimensions to build trust over time. First we explore cognitive trust; and how your competence, reliability and integrity build trust. We then explore affective trust, and how your benevolence and consideration are building blocks of trust. And finally, we describe behavioral trust; and how you use body language and behaviors to deepen trust.

Message and Mission: Driving Organizational Change

On this episode of the podcast we discuss how the Chief of Staff uses Organizational Change Management Best Practices to drive affect change.  We’ve reviewed the scientific research on organizational change and distilled the findings into best practices for three distinct phases of organizational change. The first phase is the “visioning” stage, in which the leader develops a vision for the future that calls for change. The second phase is “mobilizing,” in which the organization is “readied” for change. And the third stage is “navigating,” which is the process of undergoing change. 

Message and Mission: Engaging for impact - Stakeholder Management

On this episode of the podcast we discuss how the Chief of Staff uses Stakeholder Management to engage and gain support from stakeholders on initiatives and projects. We describe a three step process that the Chief of Staff can use for stakeholder management. In the first step we describe four methods that can be used for stakeholder identification. Second, we discuss how to segment and map stakeholders based on interest and influence. And finally, we describe how to use the stakeholder segments to develop communication and influencing plans. 

Message and Mission: Transformational Leadership

On this episode of the podcast we discuss how the Chief Of Staff uses Transformational Leadership to inspire, challenge and lead. First, we describe the four dimensions of transformational leadership. We then give examples of behaviors and attributes from each dimension. And finally, we describe three exercises that you can do to practice and refine your transformational leadership skills.

Message and Mission: How Chief Of Staff Uses Goal Setting to Increase Goal Commitment

On this episode of the podcast we discuss how the Chief Of Staff uses Goal Setting best practices to increase Goal Commitment in the organization. First, we discuss how Goal Commitment is impacted by the “importance” of the goal and its “achievability.” We then demonstrate how the Chief Of Staff can impact how the organization views both the importance of the goal and its achievability, through examples and case studies. Finally, we give examples of how you can increase self efficacy, so that each individual believes they can reach their goals. 

Message - Mission and OKR’s

On this episode of the podcast we discuss how OKR’s are used to align and integrate the organization’s actions and priorities to the organizations top level objectives. We then define OKR’s and describe key points in how they are used. Next we discuss the research on goal setting and how you need to think about the goals you set (stretch, roof-shot, etc.). And finally, we present a framework that you can use to implement OKR’s in your organization. 

The Importance of Message And Mission To CEO and Chief of Staff

On this episode of the podcast we discuss the importance of message and mission. We detail why the CEO must develop simple themes and messages that articulate where the organization is headed. And why reinforcement of these themes by the CEO and Chief of Staff is critical to organization buy in. We then give a case study on how Satya Nadella has used this model at Microsoft to turn the organization around. We also articulate why the Chief Of Staff must master and reinforce these themes. 

I Think I Need A Chief of Staff - Now What?

 

On this episode of the podcast we first explore the need for a Chief of Staff. We detail five key questions that a CEO / Hiring Manager can ask to validate their need for a Chief of Staff. Once that need is validated we describe the seven steps we use to bring on a Chief of Staff. This includes an assessment of the CEO’s time and the organization’s needs. Our recommendations for the position along with the creation of a job description. And a detailed on-boarding plan for the CEO and Chief of Staff.