If you're considering bringing on a Chief of Staff or just need someone to explain the basics, this episode lays the groundwork and levels-set the foundation for future discussions on the role.

A Chief of Staff works closely with the CEO, helping with company strategy, gap-filling key roles, and ensuring executive team cohesion. They can set up effective meeting structures, help onboard new executives, and even turn around toxic cultures. Key examples include managing strategic planning, coordinating board governance, and running critical projects during crises like COVID.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:31 Defining the Chief of Staff Role
01:11 The Chief of Staff's Strategic Importance
02:09 Key Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff
05:07 Chief of Staff in Action: Real-World Examples
05:47 Strategic Planning and Meeting Structures
12:31 Board Governance and Executive Integration
18:22 Gap Filling and Recruitment
21:49 Cultural Transformation and Crisis Management
29:05 Conclusion and Contact Information

Emily talks with Dela Quist about increasing email marketing engagement by varying subject lines and sending more frequent emails. Emily shares a story about a persistent salesperson to highlight the importance of staying top of mind. They also discuss Dela's extensive background in the industry and his views on open rates and effective email strategies.

Links Mentioned:

• Connect with Dela Quist on LinkedIn
• Dela Quist's Website
• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:33 Meet Dela Quist: Email Marketing Authority
02:14 The Evolution of Email Marketing
05:08 Batch and Blast vs. Personalized Emails
06:59 The Power of Brand Impressions
09:44 Overcoming Email Marketing Misconceptions
12:11 The Economics of Email Marketing
13:05 Smart Email Strategies: “Do Be Smart”
18:31 Understanding Consumer Preferences
20:40 Content vs. Offers in Email Marketing
22:15 The Power of Email Subject Lines
34:09 Engaging the Unengaged

Emily explains three types of executive transitions: planned, sudden, and founder transitions. She discusses challenges like resistance to change, knowledge gaps, and cultural fit, and offers tools such as transition teams and clear job descriptions. Two examples provided include a nonprofit's executive director change and a tech startup's rapid CEO replacement.

Links Mentioned:

• Choosing the Right Coach for Your Career Transition Blog
• Leveraging Leadership Episode 67
• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 3 Kinds of Transitions: Planned, Sudden, Founder
01:37 Opportunities for Organizational Realignment
02:41 Challenges in Executive Transitions
05:34 Tools for Managing Transitions
09:21 Supporting Departing Leaders
10:24 Real-World Examples of Transitions

Mel Mathews shares her journey to becoming Chief of Staff at Performance Architects, highlighting the importance of networking and professional conduct. She talks about working closely with co-founders on growth strategies and conducting an anonymous engagement survey to gather employee feedback on PTO policies. Mel emphasizes the need for clear role definitions and the value of institutional knowledge when recruiting for leadership positions.

Links Mentioned:

• Performance Architects' Website
• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:33 Mel's Career Journey
02:01 About Performance Architects
03:53 Role and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff
04:36 Autonomy and Trust in Leadership
07:19 Returning to Performance Architects
16:25 First 60 Days as Chief of Staff
23:17 Advice for Executives Hiring a Chief of Staff
28:30 Favorite Aspects of Being Chief of Staff

Emily offers three practical tips for ensuring your work meets your boss's needs: ask for clarification at the start, paraphrase the request back, or complete a small part of the task and check in. She discusses the benefits of asking for context, outlining steps, and presenting initial thoughts.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:52 Tip 1: Ask for Context (“What are you going to use this for?”)
01:30 Tip 2: Paraphrase and Outline Steps
04:04 Tip 3: Do a Small Portion First

Emily speaks with cybersecurity expert Terry Zimniak about balancing security spending with business development and the importance of penetration testing and backup plans. Terry shares insights from his shift from technical roles to overseeing security, including how strategic partnerships like Ascension Health’s acquisition come with risks. They also discuss the role of frameworks like NIST CSF and the growing threat of AI in phishing and deepfake scams.

Links Mentioned:

• Terry Zimniak's Website
• Cybersecurity Frameworks and Guides:

◦ NIST Cybersecurity Framework
◦ FTC Cybersecurity Guidance for Small Businesses

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Meet Terry Zimniak: Cybersecurity Expert
00:46 Journey into Cybersecurity
03:25 Balancing Security for Small Businesses
05:58 Compliance and Risk Management
16:50 Business Resiliency and Cybersecurity
26:42 AI and the Future of Cybersecurity

Emily talks about the concept of "currency" in different work roles, sharing an example of a new Chief of Staff who had to shift her focus from production numbers to building relationships and culture. She explains that understanding and using the right currency, like relationships for a Chief of Staff or time and focus for an executive team, adds value to the role. Emily encourages listeners to identify and possibly change their own "currency" to better serve their team and company.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Understanding Your Currency
02:12 Evaluating and Adapting Your Currency
03:02 Conclusion and Call to Action

Brandy Willis talks about her journey from Executive Assistant (EA) to Chief of Staff, managing various responsibilities across nine companies. She explains the importance of building strong relationships and handling different personalities, especially with her principal and his wife. Specific examples include overseeing government contracts, managing financials, and balancing personal tasks.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in touch with Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:45 Meet Brandy Willis: From EA to Chief of Staff
01:53 Managing Nine Companies
05:19 Daily Operations and Prioritization
10:29 Supporting the Principal and His Wife
14:40 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff