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Opener: Chief of Staff–An unexpected journey
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Monday, January 8, 2024 • DesignOps Summit 2020
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Opener: Chief of Staff–An unexpected journey
Speakers: Lisa Gironda
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Summary

“There’s something about the title or the idea of the chief of staff that seems to be in the zeitgeist.” — Chris Whipple, “The Gatekeepers” The role of Chief of Staff is trending across all industries, but for some the journey is unorthodox and may require good timing and a strong pitch to create the role. Add to the adventure that no two Chief of Staff roles are likely to be the same. Lisa will share her journey from UX to Design Ops to Chief of Staff, including some of the methods that she uses to make her way: be the beacon, spread the light, and support your team, even in times of high anxiety.

Key Insights

  • A liberal arts background in literature can surprisingly provide strong communication skills crucial for a chief of staff role.

  • The chief of staff position is highly fluid, with responsibilities shifting every few months and varying greatly across individuals.

  • Early career moments, like being the go-to person for seemingly small tasks (e.g., finding blue copy paper), build trust and foundational skills in the role.

  • Systems thinking from UX and technology roles supports effective design and operational leadership within a chief of staff capacity.

  • Design operations experience functions as a stepping stone to chief of staff, involving managing growth, handling unexpected requests, and difficult conversations.

  • Chiefs of staff act as proxies for their leaders, managing day-to-day operations to free leaders for strategic priorities.

  • Writing and regularly updating a personalized chief of staff job description clarifies focus and expectations.

  • Effective chief of staff communication must be tailored for different audiences, balancing confidentiality and clarity.

  • Self-care practices like meditation, journaling, and setting boundaries are critical to manage the emotional demands of the role.

  • Metaphors like glitter and disco balls help illustrate the chief of staff’s role as a resilient, creative, and visible support system amid complexity.

Notable Quotes

"Almost immediately when I started working, I would say, ‘Oh, no, let me take that or I can do that,’ and then I did."

"If you ask 10 chiefs of staff what they do, you will get 20 job descriptions."

"Grow where you’re planted. I hadn’t planned to get a literature degree and then work in technology, but I did."

"Being a chief of staff means just remembering and helping other people get their shit done."

"I was basically a junior chief of staff before I even knew what one was."

"Writing my first chief of staff job description was just the start; I continue to rewrite it every few months."

"Communication is representative of my boss, so it always matters no matter my intentions."

"I have a tendency towards hyper vigilance, like a German Shepherd, and my team helps me recognize when that happens."

"Keeping the disco ball spinning means supporting others starts with supporting myself."

"If you can give your boss back eight hours a week to focus on strategic priorities, you’re well on your way to being a chief of staff."

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