ILM Chief of Staff Executive Assistant Role

The Role of a Chief of Staff is a complex role which requires balancing multiple priorities. The Chief of Staff act as a filter, gathering information from the across the organisation, assessing it and communicating upwards. Chief of Staff face both outwards and into the organisation, sensing changes externally and then connecting these external changes to internal strategic decisions.

This course explores the core competencies that Chief of Staff require and the balancing act they have to play when dealing with people, communicating, listening, framing, reframing and prioritising. Executive Assistants perform many of these skills and competencies and Executive Assistants can increase their value within the organisation and the support they provide to the Senior Leadership Team by developing Chief of Staff competencies.

Key Takeaways

You will come away from this programme with an increased sense and understanding of the role that Chief of Staff perform and how important their role is in supporting Chairman, CEOs & Executive Directors. This course will deepen the Executive Assistant/CEO Business Partnership.

Your Executive will gain a business savvy and proactive EA/Chief of Staff who will feel confident to take on additional business projects, attend meetings and become an expert at forward planning and protecting the Executive Office from constant interruptions. As an EA/Chief of Staff you are often the only person who can ask leaders ‘to take a minute, slow down and look at things from a different perspective.’

CPD Standards Office Certificate

Digital certificate - Included

8 Module Programme:

Introduction: Programme commences with discussion onthe Chief of Staff Role, the different levels and responsibility that Chief of Staff may have.

Module 1: Strategy, Operations & Organisational Culture

• Explore the position of Executive Assistant/Chief of Staff within an organisation and how they take the organisational pulse to optimise culture performance
• Understand what ‘culture’ really means, how it works and its effect on performance
• Measure and map the effectiveness of an organisation’s culture in supporting its objectives
• Explore how to shift internal perceptions
• Create positive workplace behaviours
• Activity: Group work on how culture is established in a new organisation
• Includes business videos, assessments, handouts

Module 2: The Core Competencies of Chief of Staff

• Introduction to the SHL Universal Competency Framework
• Understand people’s behaviour at work and likelihood of succeeding in certain roles
• Explore the skills, knowledge and capabilities required for Chief of Staff role
• Assess yourself against the Great Eight Competencies, which are Leading & Deciding; Supporting & Cooperating; Interacting & Presenting; Analysing & Interpreting; Creating & Conceptualising; Organising & Executing; Adapting & Coping; Enterprising & Performing

Module 3: Supporting Change Management & Managing Conflict

• Review the case for managing change and the impact change can have on the workplace
• Discover how Chief of Staff defuse pressures and ensure the implementation of necessary change, while minimising damage to organisational culture
• Review how to identify and map likely resistance points amongst critical stakeholders during change management planning phase
• Develop strategies to communicate the planned change with transparency, clarity and authority
• Learn how to manage conflict and solve problems

Module 4: Managing Board Meetings, Board Packs, Stakeholders, VIPs. Review of Corporate Governance

• Best practice on coordination of Board Meetings
• Setting Agendas, running meetings and follow up
• Roles & Responsibilities of Board Members
• Liaising with the Company Secretary
• Managing Stakeholder Relations, VIPs & Investors
• Review of UK Corporate Governance Code 202

Module 5: Chief of Staff – Leading without Authority & Developing Emotional Intelligence

• Analysis of the informal authority of Chief of Staff
• Leadership qualities of Chief of Staff and understanding Servant Leadership
• Measure your Leadership capabilities and how to become a trusted advisor
• Develop your Emotional Intelligence understanding of self to enable the ability to lead
• Explore how to use Emotional Intelligence awareness to manage situations at work

Module 6: Advanced Communication Skills for Chief of Staff

• Implement the 5Cs of Courageous Conversations
• Discover your Johari Personality Style through assessment
• Johari Window promotes personal development and improves communication
• Use knowledge of your Johari Window and Blind Spots to communicate more effectively with others

Module 7: The Executive Assistant & Chief of Staff Supervisory Role

• Explore the role of a Supervisor in supporting staff
• Discover how to manage employee feedback and goal setting
• Increase your confidence to manage difficult conversations
• Review your communication style and how good are you at listening?
• How to give positive and constructive feedback

Module 8: Chief of Staff Soft Power, Negotiation Skills & Summary of the Course

• As a Chief of Staff review how to manage the relationship with stakeholders, clients and VIPs. Develop a stakeholder communication plan to inform on progress against strategic decisions
• Discover how to negotiate win-win outcomes for your Executive and the organisation
• Activity: Negotiation and Influencing activity and assessment
• Assess in what ways you can become the right hand Business Partner/Chief of Staff to your Executive and their Team?
• Review the future skills and knowledge that Executive Assistants require to move to a Chief of Staff position

The Chief of Staff Executive Assistant Programme has been designed for Executive Assistants who are advancing their leadership and management skills to take on more responsibility supporting their Executive.

This course is for Executive Assistants, Executive PAs, Personal Assistants, Private PAs, Senior Secretaries who already work at Director Level.

This course creates opportunities to step further into management responsibilities.