The Archetypes of Chief of Staff: The Strategist, The Operator or The Proxy?
What Are Archetypes in Hiring?
In hiring, archetypes refer to the use of common personality models or frameworks to categorize candidates based on their natural behaviors, motivators and working styles. Archetypes help hiring managers and recruiters assess how a candidate might fit within a team or the company culture. They also provide insight into how a candidate may perform in a specific role.
Why Are Archetypes Important in Hiring?
Particularly in executive roles like Chief of Staff, archetypes are important for these reasons:
Balanced Team Dynamics – Teams are often more effective when comprised of complementary archetypes that balance strengths and weaknesses, encouraging collaboration and productivity, particularly when the Chief of Staff archetype complements the CEO archetype.
Higher Engagement and Retention – Chiefs of Staff who operate in roles that align with their archetypal strengths are more likely to be engaged, motivated and fulfilled at work.
Clarity in Leadership and Career Development – The Chief of Staff archetype gives the CEO clarity on how to mentor, coach and develop their direct report based on natural strengths and tendencies.
Objective Assessment of Soft Skills – In the Chief of Staff role, soft skills like communication, teamwork and leadership are as critical as technical skills. Archetypes offer a lens through which to evaluate these traits.
Strategic Workforce Planning – Clarity on the Chief of Staff archetype allows for more strategic workforce planning, ensuring the team is led by the right personalities and strengths to achieve business goals.
What Are the Archetypes of Chief of Staff?
The role of a Chief of Staff can be categorized into three key archetypes as shown here in three concentric circles:
The Operator – This archetype is a detail-oriented, process-driven Chief of Staff, acting as a junior COO who excels at transforming strategic goals into actionable plans. They bring structure, efficiency and clarity to an organization by implementing repeatable processes and optimizing workflows to keep the business running smoothly.
The Strategist – While The Operator ensures seamless execution of daily operations, The Strategist takes things a step further, combining operational excellence with big-picture thinking. They are forward-focused, helping the CEO navigate the complexities of growth, market shifts and innovation. The Strategist is not just a master of implementation but also an architect of the future, shaping long-term plans and guiding the organization toward its strategic goals.
The Proxy – The ultimate partner to the CEO, The Proxy acts as their representative across all levels of the organization and even in external settings. This archetype is not only a master of operations and strategy, like The Operator and The Strategist, but also a trusted confidant who can step into the CEO’s shoes when needed. The Proxy ensures the CEO’s vision is carried out with precision while making independent decisions that reflect the leader’s intentions and values.
Which Chief of Staff Archetype Is Right for You?
The right Chief of Staff archetype fit for your company depends on your organizational needs and your leadership style. The Strategist may be ideal if your focus is on long-term strategic alignment across teams and initiatives. The Operator may be best suited if your company requires strong operational management. If you are often in high-level meetings or need someone to handle communications and decisions on your behalf, The Proxy archetype will amplify your presence throughout the organization.
Whether you seek to hire a Chief of Staff or to up-level your staff with training, we are here to help.
Vannin Chief of Staff, founded in 2020, is a premier talent partner with a focus on roles supporting the CEO. We have a proven track record of helping executives find the right talent, full-time or fractionally, and up-level their talent via our proprietary advisory program. Vannin Chief of Staff has served over 250 clients globally, including Shopify, Orange Theory, Cordis, Lilac Solutions, GRIN, Propelus, WALR, Wish for Wheels and more. Get details at vanninchiefofstaff.com.