Back in the best #WestWing days, President Bartlett’s chief of staff, “Leo”, overhears the president advising agricultural secretary how to pick a chief of staff.
Do you have a best friend?
Is he smarter than you?
Do you trust him with your life?
That’s your Chief of Staff.
When I first heard the episode I took notes and immediately contacted my best friend to let her know she was my “Chief of Staff”. She had heard the episode as well.
The best friend is someone who listens to you and who knows you so well that they hear what you’re NOT saying. The C.O.S. will tell you the truth even when you don’t want to hear it. Above all, they give you feedback, information and support that is in your best interest; not theirs.
YOUR NETWORK
It doesn’t matter if you have Dunbar’s 150 “friends” in your network or LinkedIN’s 30,000 1st degree contacts. If you don’t have that Chief of Staff, the rest are nice but….
I have been fortunate. I have my Trusted Trio, my “kitchen cabinet” with pinch-hitters, and my network of smart, savvy, interesting and interested people. Some have been in my life since grammar school and others are fairly new (2 years).
When we were leaving for college, the late Steven Berman shared a quote I have cherished: “Make new friends, but don’t forget the old. One is silver and the other is gold. Which is which? To be determined.
The SAVVY Networker maintains long-time relationships and builds new ones; never forsaking one for the other.
About Susan RoAne
