8 Triggers that Lead a CEO to Hire a Chief of Staff
Based on the many documented benefits, a CEO should want to hire a Chief of Staff on the spot. But sometimes other matters take precedent and hiring plans are delayed. If that’s the case, look out for these 8 triggers that make hiring a Chief of Staff an urgent necessity - not something that can be kept on the backburner.
You’ve Just Got New Investment. With new money comes added responsibilities and investor obligations. Having someone who can execute alongside you will increase your productivity and help you reach your ambitious business targets.
You’re a First Time CEO. If you’re new to the role of CEO, it’s important that you have someone who understands how things work at an executive level. Your Chief of Staff can help guide you through executive level processes and procedures, like regular business reviews and special projects.
You’re New to your Company. If you’re new to an organization, you’ll want to build relationships with your executive team and employees and develop an understanding of the business. And you’ll want to do it fast. A Chief of Staff can help facilitate relationship building and also bring you up to speed on all aspects of the company.
You Just Got a New Mandate From Your Board. Another trigger for hiring a Chief of Staff is when you receive a new mandate from your board or investors. This could be anything from launching new products or services, expanding into different markets, or enterprise-wide digital transformation — all initiatives that require extensive strategic planning and execution. A Chief of Staff can help you derisk this mandate and ensure you are on track to reaching your goals.
You’ve Identified a Critical Skills Gap. As CEO, you may also find yourself needing a Chief of Staff if it becomes clear that there are multiple skills gaps within your team that need a solution now. A senior Chief of Staff can play an interim role while you find a full-time solution.
Your Schedule Is Too Full. If your schedule as CEO suddenly becomes too full and you’re dropping the ball, then it’s high time to hire a Chief of Staff. They can reduce your task load, gatekeep meetings, and execute special projects on your behalf.
Your Team Is Growing Rapidly. If the employee count at your organization is growing rapidly, then your organization is likely undergoing massive change. Hiring a Chief of Staff can help you onboard new folks while maintaining company culture and smooth operations.
You Need to Fundraise for New Money. If you need to fundraise, an experienced Chief of Staff can help project manage the fundraising process while also preparing materials for investor meetings.
Share this playbook with a CEO, founder or top executive that needs to hire a Chief of Staff to get themselves back on the right track at the link here.
