One of the most valuable things a Chief of Staff can do is help a leadership team make decisions. That doesn’t mean making the decisions for them. It means that you make it easier for them to make good decisions. When a decision keeps appearing on the agenda, generating lots of discussion, and leaving the
When the Leadership Team Is Stuck, the Chief of Staff Has Work to Do Read More »
My favorite kind of meeting to facilitate is most people’s least favorite: When the stakes are high and people disagree, more open-ended discussion rarely helps. What does help is creating a process that makes it easier for people to hear one another, identify the real disagreement, and work toward a decision. Here are five steps
Five Steps to Facilitate a High-Stakes Decision Meeting Read More »
Your leadership team has been talking about the same issue for months. 🤓 Someone suggests bringing in a consultant. 📊 Someone else wants more data. 👥 Maybe the org structure needs to change. 🤝 Maybe you need a task force. 📈 Maybe the team just needs one more analysis before it can make a decision.
Chiefs of Staff: Is Your Leadership Team Solving the Wrong Problem? Read More »
One of the fastest ways to become an indispensable Chief of Staff is surprisingly simple: Stop asking, “What did my leader ask me to do?” and start asking, “What problem are they actually trying to solve?” Many Chiefs of Staff fall into the trap of becoming exceptional task completers. They’re responsive, organized, and reliable. Their
Stop Completing Tasks. Start Solving Problems. Read More »
One of the biggest mistakes people make with difficult stakeholders is treating every conversation like a transaction. The strongest relationships are built through connection. And connection often starts with curiosity. Here are three practices I’ve found surprisingly effective when working with skeptical, resistant, or hard-to-read stakeholders: 1. Go beyond “I’m fine. How are you?” Most
How to Build Relationships with Your Toughest Stakeholders Read More »
Layoffs. Reorganizations. Missed goals. Budget cuts. Leadership transitions. Most organizations eventually face seasons where people are carrying more uncertainty, disappointment, and emotional weight than usual. In these moments, leaders often ask: How do we support people through hard times while still moving the organization forward? It’s an important question. And it’s one that leaders don’t
Leading Through Hard Times: How to Support the Team Read More »
Lately, I’ve had several C-level leaders tell me some version of: “I built my own Chief of Staff with AI.” Usually, when I ask what they mean, the answer sounds something like: Many Leaders Were Never Taught About This Role Hey, look, I get it. Many leaders inherited a Chief of Staff. Or were told
Despite what you’ve heard, actions don’t necessarily speak for themselves.
Being Isn’t Enough: Why Great Leadership Often Goes Unrecognized Read More »
Over-functioning often looks like strong leadership, but it can quietly undermine accountability, growth, and even our own emotional well-being.
Over-Functioning: When Being a “Dependable Leader” Becomes a Hidden Risk Read More »
