Embracing the Dynamic Role of a Chief of Staff with Maggie Olson

In this episode, we delve into the multifaceted and dynamic role of Chief of Staff with Maggie Olson, Founder and CEO of Nova. Maggie draws from her extensive experience supporting high-level leaders at Nordstrom, Starbucks, and T-Mobile, and shares insightful stories and valuable lessons about this often misunderstood role.

From enhancing communication and building trust to the journey of entrepreneurship, Maggie offers a comprehensive look into what makes a Chief of Staff effective and how she has built a successful training program around it. Below, we highlight key takeaways from our conversation. Enjoy!

The Dynamic Role of a Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff in an organization is a diverse role with strategic importance in supporting leadership. In our conversation, Maggie Olson highlights that while day-to-day tasks may vary depending on the organization, the core purpose is universal: to maximize a leader’s time and ensure strategic alignment across the executive team. The Chief of Staff role involves managing key initiatives, acting as a proxy for the leader, and maintaining efficient operations—differing significantly from roles like Executive Assistants.

The Journey to Creating Nova

Maggie’s creation of Nova stems from a personal recognition of a gap in the professional development landscape—a lack of certification for Chiefs of Staff similar to the numerous project management certifications available. Inspired by her entrepreneurial spirit and familial encouragement, Maggie built the Nova certification course, providing aspiring and current Chiefs of Staff with hands-on training and valuable templates tailored to enhance their skill set.

Entrepreneurship and Learning

Throughout our conversation, Maggie expresses her passion for entrepreneurship and the challenges it presents. For her, running Nova is about flexibility, ownership, and the constant pursuit of learning—qualities she also treasures in the Chief of Staff role. The core principles at Nova emphasize the need for quick learning, feedback, and strategic adaptation, fostering a dynamic and responsive team culture.

Building Trust

Trust is paramount in the Chief of Staff position. Maggie conveys the importance of nurturing trust through consistent communication and incremental improvements. She advocates for Chiefs of Staff to engage with all leaders within the organization to understand their goals and challenges, building lasting relationships that support the execution of strategic visions.

Consistency and Safety

Consistency, according to Maggie, is a cornerstone of effective leadership, providing team members with a sense of safety and reliability. By maintaining consistent behavior, leaders create an environment where team members know what to expect and feel secure in their roles, fostering a positive and conductive team culture.

Vulnerability and Self-awareness

Vulnerability is another critical area Maggie addresses, informed by her own journey of self-discovery and growth as a leader. She emphasizes the importance of embracing vulnerability and self-awareness as strengths rather than weaknesses in leadership. Maggie suggests setting clear boundaries and prioritizing self-care to maintain balance and composure in professional settings.

Self-reflection

To effectively thrive in dynamic roles, it’s important to continue learning and adapting through reflection and feedback. The Nova certification course is designed with a strong focus on self-reflection to help participants understand their strengths and areas for improvement. By encouraging introspection, Maggie aims to equip future Chiefs of Staff with the tools necessary to successfully navigate and adapt to their roles.

Enhance Your Leadership and Team Dynamics

By applying these insights, current and aspiring Chiefs of Staff can enhance their capabilities and contribute to building a successful organizational culture. For more resources on enhancing your leadership and team dynamics, visit the Nova website , our website, or connect with us here!