If you are online a lot you must have heard about a chief-of-staff. I for one heard about a CoS from my favorite blogger when he mentioned how he hired one and how much time it saved him. A chief-of-staff is a self-employed individual that provides creative, technical, and administrative assistance to customers from a home-based office generally.
They also help businesses with their admin and update their clients on the status of tasks. A chief-of-staff business or a being chief-of-staff is very profitable and comfortable. I have come across multiple individuals who quit their full-time job to be a CoS. It gives you the relaxation of working at your own time and comfort. One must demonstrate loyalty to keep a hold of their clients so a CoS needs to have skills aside from expertise and knowledge.
Now you know what a CoS so you must understand that they can be good or bad, I came across a lot of bad experience where CoS’s were not able to deliver their designated tasks at all despite being paid a lot. So why not reflect on what are the best qualities or essential qualities a CoS must-have.
Reliability
Reliability is the topmost and a must-have quality in any CoS. It does not matter how much expertise and low prices you offer if the clients cannot rely on you, you have nothing. A CoS is supposed to make a client’s life easier but if you are not reliable they have to keep a check on you, this will affect their work and they will lose you eventually. So be professional, reply to their messages and emails, keep them updated, and work in a way that they give you work and forget it. They should not be a reminder or alarm clock for you.
Accuracy
Chief-of-Staff are of course human and humans are prone to error but they are being paid a lot. So accuracy is very important, you must avoid typos and substandard word at any cost. If you are not accurate your client will have to check your work every time and that is a big let-down. You must learn your responsibilities and after a few initial times, you must be accurate at all times.
Integrity
Integrity is a very important quality and it is the fundamental one in any business. Plagiarizing is unacceptable at any instance and will be costly for your client. Additionally, you should avoid false promises and miscommunications, for example, if you promise them a task by the end of the week then it should never exceed the deadline. Try to do the work early on so you are ready at the promised time.
Good Communication Skills
Communication is the key to being a good CoS. You should always communicate with your client before starting on any project. You both must be clear on deadlines, availability, frequency, and medium of updates. You can use certain apps like Asana or Trello to keep track of tasks and the client can monitor the updates and track progress as well.
Time Management
Being a CoS can and should work with multiple clients but give every client your full time and attention. This way they think you are dedicated to their work and they are your only client. Once you start working as a CoS you will have many tasks and some of them are considered trivial but takes a lot of time so the best way to manage your work is to plan each day and task. This way you can be scheduled and efficient.
Resourcefulness
A CoS must be resourceful so the client can turn to them in time of need. This does not mean that you have to know each thing but you must have a system that allows you to find out. People consider Chief-of-Staff (CoS’s) as troubleshooters that they can go to for any information and problem. Keep learning and try to devise technology and system to get your work in the flow.
Some other qualities that are quite important in a CoS are
- Being Disciplined and Self-directed.
- Must add value to the client’s business.
- Dependable
- Organized
The list goes on and on but above few are a must-have when it comes to being a good and proper CoS. When you become a CoS you must be able to work well under pressure and should be an ideal person. Such CoS’s are considered as assets and are recommended among communities.
