Discover Your Why

1 profound mistake every Chief of Staff should avoid in their career: Not asking themselves the question “Why?”

Let’s face it. Many Chiefs of Staff these days are ruthless execution machines. They don’t have time to think about who they are, what they do and why it matters. Instead, most are chasing general concepts of “glory” and “prestige.” They have ambitious career aspirations, but don’t really know what’s next.

But I’m sensing a philosophical epidemic here. Chiefs of Staff haven’t gotten clear on their why. They aren’t being specific about why they are committing blood, sweat and tears to the job. The missed social appointments, the early morning starts, the late night calls with the CEO…why do they do it?

Without getting clear on the “why,” true passion, direction and perseverance cannot be achieved. High performance is elusive.

Ok, so what can Chiefs of Staff do about it? Our suggestion: draw inspiration from literature. I’m reminded of the 8th century BC tale, The Odyssey, told in epic poetic form.

Ancient Greek poet Homer tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who goes on a 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. Along the way, Odysseus fights powerful, magical creatures and also faces the wrath of the gods.

In the end, he returns home and retakes the throne, but not before he has to prove his own identity and slaughter the suitors of his wife Penelope. Talk about drama...

Moral of the story: Odysseus had such a strong “Why?” - his family, throne and homeland - that he endured a grueling journey in order to reach his goals.

Loyalty, compassion, and self-control were the guiding principles that helped him get there.

So, Chiefs of Staff, what’s your “Why?” Don’t avoid it. Sit with it. And then get clear on your meaning and purpose to unlock high performance.

Download our Chief of Staff Playbook here to discover how identifying your "Why?" can drive passion and high performance in your Chief of Staff role, and unlock deeper purpose in your career journey.