Why Chiefs of Staff Need Power Skills More Than Ever
As AI reshapes the workplace, one truth is becoming more clear: the most valuable professionals aren't those who can be replaced by algorithms, but those who can harness uniquely human capabilities to drive results.
We’ve advocated that the Chief of Staff is no longer singularly focused on aligning people but is also now the Chief of AI.
Beyond "Soft" Skills
Let's stop calling them soft skills. As Josh Bersin argues, these capabilities are anything but soft, they're power skills. They're the competencies that give you real influence at work, and they're becoming increasingly critical as organizations lean into AI-driven efficiency.
There's nothing soft about navigating a boardroom full of competing egos, or managing up to a CEO during a crisis, or influencing without authority across departments that don't report to you.
These skills are hard to build, harder to master, and impossible to automate. They're what separate good Chiefs of Staff from transformational ones.
Ready to Master the Power Skills That Set You Apart?
Don't let AI leave you behind. Join our comprehensive Power Skills for Chiefs of Staff program and develop the human-centered capabilities that create real influence and impact. Join 500+ Chiefs of Staff who've transformed their careers through our proven methodology. Each program includes live sessions, peer collaboration, and real-world application.
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The AI Factor Changes Everything
As AI handles more data analysis, scheduling, and routine communications, the human elements of the Chief of Staff role become exponentially more important. Companies need strategic orchestrators who can:
- Communicate with real impact across all organizational levels
- Lead without formal authority to drive initiatives forward
- Navigate ambiguity and complexity when there's no playbook
- Manage difficult conversations that determine organizational direction
- Foster resilience and adaptability during constant change
These are no longer nice-to-have competencies. They're survival skills for the modern Chief of Staff.
The Power Skills That Matter
Strategic Influence & Leadership tops the list. You need to build influence and drive initiatives even when half the people you're coordinating don't technically report to you. Master negotiation techniques. Learn situational leadership. Develop your storytelling abilities to inspire action.
Communication & Influence comes next. Learn to tailor messaging for maximum effectiveness. Develop executive storytelling techniques. Most importantly, learn to speak truth to power; to challenge and advise executives with both confidence and diplomacy.
Adaptability & Change Management rounds out the core. The only constant is change, and Chiefs of Staff sit at the center of organizational transformation. You need frameworks for making high-stakes decisions in uncertain environments. Crisis management skills. The ability to embrace chaos while maintaining strategic thinking.
The Human Advantage
Here's what AI can't replicate: the nuanced judgment to know when to push back on the CEO's pet project, the emotional intelligence to sense team dynamics before they explode, the strategic instinct to connect seemingly unrelated organizational challenges.
These capabilities take years to develop. They're built through experience, failure, reflection, and continuous learning. They require what Bersin calls "life-long commitment."
Building Your Power Skills
The good news? These skills can be developed systematically. Through structured programs that combine expert instruction with real-world application. Through collaborative learning with other Chiefs of Staff facing similar challenges. Through designed experiences that push you beyond your comfort zone.
The companies winning in the AI era aren't just buying new tools. They're investing in developing the human capabilities that technology can't replace. For Chiefs of Staff, that means doubling down on Power Skills development AND AI competencies.
Are you building the Power Skills to thrive in that new reality?
