3 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Your Chief of Staff’s Professional Development

Investing in your Chief of Staff’s professional development might be more important than you think. Here’s what you should know.

Key takeaways:

• Inadequate career growth opportunities are the main reason for employee churn
• Providing professional development can make you an attractive employer to prospective Chiefs of Staff and increase your retention rate by as much as 34%
• It can also help you boost their engagement, morale, and productivity
• Moreover, it ensures they have the necessary resources, skills, and tools to work efficiently and drive your bottom line, not just today but in the future too
• Mentorship programs, external coaching, conferences, and additional leadership responsibilities are great ways to promote your Chief of Staff’s career growth

According to Gallup, employees mainly change jobs to pursue career growth opportunities. Now, more than ever, businesses must offer professional development to attract top talent, reduce employee churn, and grow sustainably. Most people often assume that a Chief of Staff’s professional development is baked into the job due to their proximity to an executive. However, this isn’t entirely true. Although a Chief of Staff’s role provides an excellent learning opportunity, development doesn’t happen by exposure alone. The development of any employee requires a thoughtful and dedicated approach and involves helping them progress in their career path. This article looks at three reasons why it’s beneficial to invest in your Chief of Staff’s professional development and how you can help them become better leaders.

1. Attracting and retaining top talent

As your startup grows, you’ll need top talent to navigate the new terrain and stay competitive. The challenge is that skilled Chiefs of Staff are in high demand and have many job opportunities. Often it’s companies with strong employer brands that attract top talent. Although salary also plays a crucial role in their decision, Chiefs of Staff are increasingly looking beyond their pay grade and seeking more rewarding opportunities at work and for their future. The modern Chief of Staff knows the benefits of professional development to job satisfaction and career growth. The value they place on working at an organization that invests in their development shouldn’t be overlooked.  Therefore, providing an exceptional professional development journey can be a wise strategy to win the battle for talent–and it could be the difference between attracting a top-performing Chief of Staff or losing them to a competitor. Beyond incentivizing these professionals to join your company, career development can also enhance retention. A recent survey on the impact of professional development by Better Buys found that companies that provide these opportunities have a 34% higher retention rate than their counterparts.  Additionally, the survey revealed that workers getting professional development were more likely (75% compared to 56% of those without) to stay at their current organization for the next five years. In other words, rolling out leadership development programs for your Chief of Staff not only helps you create a positive work environment and culture that attracts top talent, but it can also ensure that these professionals feel appreciated once they join your organization and reduce the likelihood of them moving to a company with better career growth opportunities.

2. Improving engagement and productivity

Several studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between providing professional development opportunities and employee engagement.  For example, Better Buys’ survey found professional development to increase employee engagement by 15%. In another study by Udemy, 80% of the respondents said that learning new skills would make them more engaged. Unsurprisingly, the survey also found that a lack of opportunities for professional development was the leading cause of disengagement among those surveyed. The common theme across these studies is that organizations with lower active disengagement and higher employee engagement perform at higher levels. By providing professional development opportunities to your Chief of Staff, you can help them become more engaged, motivated, loyal, and productive. Doing so will make them feel part of something bigger than themselves, leading them to apply themselves to their roles with more energy.  This will, in turn, boost your company’s bottom line and profitability.

3. Future-proofing your business

Organizations must be agile to succeed and stay competitive in the modern business landscape. As one of the most important employees in your company, your Chief of Staff must be able to adapt their strategies and skills to new challenges. They also need sound critical thinking and emotional intelligence to make sound decisions.  Investing in your Chief of Staff’s professional development ensures they have the necessary resources, skills, and tools to adapt and successfully lead in a constantly evolving environment quickly. This will prepare your business for the future and ensure long-term sustainable growth.

Tips for promoting your Chief of Staff’s professional development

Below are some examples of how you can help your Chief of Staff progress in their career:

Establish an internal mentorship program

One-on-one mentorship is a great way to help your Chief of Staff grow their professional skills as they can learn directly from the CEO and other seasoned professionals within your organization. For the best results, ensure you create an equitable program that benefits both the Chief of Staff and mentor(s).

Sponsor external coaching

Bringing outside experts to train your Chief of Staff on-site is an excellent alternative to an internal mentorship program. On-site training usually targets a specific process or skill. For example, you can hold digital literacy training to help them become familiar with new technology or software you’re currently using to streamline workflows. Or, it could be a management skills workshop to help them stay up to speed with recent trends and become more assertive leaders. Regardless of the type of training involved, on-site training by an external coach is a great way to involve your Chief of Staff in professional development.

Sponsor Conferences

Industry conferences are an excellent way for your Chief of Staff to learn, connect, and engage with like-minded peers from across the globe. With content tailored around their roles, your Chief of Staff can learn about the latest research, trends, and best practices for their unique position.

Provide additional leadership responsibilities

Giving your Chief of Staff additional leadership responsibility can also contribute to their professional development. Consider talking to them about whether they’d be interested in taking on more responsibilities, then clearly communicate the opportunities and projects available to help them decide which would be a good fit.

Invest in your Chief of Staff’s development

While the benefits of investing in a Chief of Staff’s professional development are apparent, the right growth opportunities aren’t as clear-cut–they may vary from one professional to the next. Therefore, it’s essential to understand your Chief of Staff’s interests, strengths, and long-term goals. From there, you can match them with the right opportunities. Ready to take the next step? Book an appointment with Chiefly Consultants to learn how to invest in your Chief of Staff’s professional development for the best ROI.