So, you want to be a Chief of Staff at a startup?
In our earlier post, we discussed the 5 foundational skillsets for a Chief of Staff. But startups are a different ballgame for all roles. As a setup with less structure and high pressure, a Leader at an early or growth stage startup is looking for ways to be more effective and a good Chief of Staff can be a force multiplier to help realise the many things that the leader has a Vision for. The additional traits required for a CoS in this setup is slightly more nuanced and we will go over them here :
a) Being flexible
Startups go through various crisis when they are establishing themselves and so, one very real ground reality is that there is a lot of change. Priorities change frequently either due to market forces or other considerations and decision making is very fluid. In this scenario, a CoS should be flexible to the changing demands and be willing to shift focus. This can be very hard when you have spent considerable time and effort on a problem but have to let it aside. One solution is that you can either keep working on it as a side project (but you may risk burning out) or find someone else who can pick it up.
b) Dealing with ambiguity
Problem statements in startups tend to be ambiguous and have little information or research. There would often be broad ideas during brainstorming sessions and it would fall upon the CoS to make the idea a reality and check its feasibility. This can be a tall order but also a great opportunity for the CoS to showcase their skills. I like to think of it as a jigsaw puzzle where few parts of the puzzle are known but other pieces have to come together to get the complete picture. To get the other pieces, you would have to likely work through different teams, find shared goals and be creative. This can be a very rewarding and fulfilling process if you are someone who likes challenges of this kind.
c) Influence without authority
This is one of the most important skills for a CoS in my opinion. Often, a CoS in a startup does not have a team but has to work across different functions to make progress on projects. This requires a great deal of relationship building across teams and the ability to influence without authority. (Authority here refers to a manager-reportee relationship.) As a CoS, you have the power to influence and speak on behalf of the leader you represent, but your softer skills will also go a long way in being effective. For example, if a report is stuck with an Analyst, you may find out during a coffee chat that she actually does not have the data readily available to give you the report as it requires special access and approvals. You can then expedite the approval process and enable the Analyst to give you what you want.
From a personal growth perspective, a Chief of Staff role in a startup gives you the breadth to explore different aspects of the business and sets you up for future executive roles. The exposure, responsibilities and learning you get is quite unique but demanding as well. If you want an intense, high stakes, practical learning experience on running a business or tech startup, look for a Chief of Staff role at a budding startup.
