⏱️ 3 min read
One of the most common challenges I see with new Chiefs of Staff is this: you step into the role with deep expertise from a past life — finance, operations, communications, project management, you name it. That’s part of what makes you valuable.
But it can also be the very thing that holds you back.
The Specialist Trap
When you’re “the expert” in the room, it’s tempting (and often expected) to dive in and do the work yourself. After all, you know how to do it faster, cleaner, or better than anyone else.
The problem? Every hour you spend as the doer is an hour you’re not operating as the enabler. And the Chief of Staff role is about enabling: seeing across silos, connecting dots, and helping the whole system run better.
Stay too long in specialist mode, and suddenly you’re the unofficial head of [fill in your old function] instead of the strategic thought partner your principal actually needs.
The Opportunity
Your background is still an asset. But the key is to shift how you use it:
- As a translator — explaining complex issues in a way your principal and peers can act on.
- As a coach — helping other leaders build capability in areas you know well.
- As an accelerator — spotting shortcuts, risks, or opportunities others miss because you’ve seen them before.
In other words: bring your expertise to the table, but don’t take the table over.
Three Questions to Keep You Honest
When you notice yourself leaning heavily on your past experience, pause and ask:
- Am I using this knowledge to add strategic value, or am I back in the weeds?
- Am I enabling others to grow and own this work, or am I doing it for them?
- If my principal looked at my calendar this week, would they see me acting like a Chief of Staff — or like the world’s most overqualified [insert your old job here]?
Bottom Line
Your credibility as a Chief of Staff doesn’t come from being flawless or from knowing more than everyone else. It comes from stepping above the function you came from, while still drawing on your background to help the organization move faster and smarter.
Use your strengths. Avoid the trap. That balance is what transforms you from a specialist into a true Chief of Staff.
