Professionally Offensive

The most important thing about having a Chief of Staff is utilizing them appropriately so that you and your company are able to extract maximum value. Many principals mess this part up because they continue to treat their CoS as administrative support. In order for a CoS to be effective in a company, you must expose them to everything. Nothing can be off-limits. The most effective CEOs, Founder, Entrepreneurs and Executives have their CoS involved in everything. From email access to board meetings, an effective CoS is processing all information in real-time. Joseph discusses the importance of principals setting the right tone and creating a fruitful environment, especially as they onboard their CoS. Gaining executive buy-in, is paramount to ensuring that this CoS is not hindered or siloed when doing their job. Also, the better your entire company understands that a CoS is not their to “Get Them” but instead to serve as an asset, the better your CoS will be able to do what they do best, Execute.  This 3-part series will discuss the Concept of a Chief of Staff, Who makes a good one and where to find them and most importantly, How to properly use their talents.

Now that you’re on the hunt for a Chief of Staff: Who are you looking for and where can you find them? Each Chief of Staff is custom-fit to the principal (CEO, Founder, Executive) and the company based on the culture, gaps and personalities of those involved. However, there are common traits that are found across all effective Chiefs of Staff: Execution Forward, Emotionally Intelligent and Endurance. In this episode, Joseph also discusses the sub-traits that make a great CoS and whether you should be looking inside or outside your organization for the right person. A great CoS can be usually be found in environments where grit, service and ambiguity are a constant reality.  From combat-proven military Leaders to multi-time entrepreneurs, excellent CoS candidates can come from very diverse backgrounds- It is their tenacity, teamwork and “Get It Done” attitude that ties them together. This 3-part series will discuss the Concept of a Chief of Staff, Who makes a good one and where to find them and most importantly, How to properly use their talents.

What is a Chief of Staff?  Why does a company, CEO or Team even need one?  Do they really make that much of a difference?  Answer is YES.  For any CEO, entrepreneur, executive and operator, having a Chief Of Staff in your corner allows you to scale your reach as well as access hidden potential in your company.  Military and politics have capitalized on this position for decades and has proven to be the person on the Team who "makes things happen".  Talent trends have showed that the Chief of Staff position has become more necessary and is sought out by companies of all sizes and stages.  The value this positions provides is allowing founders, CEOs and executives to be the best version of themselves, by having someone on the Team who serves as a direct extension of them.  Unlike administrative support, the CoS sits right next to you in a motorcycle-sidecar taking on every engagement, meeting and decision with you- Then helps you think critically about them all.  They serve as your best advisor because they are processing all of it in real-time with you.  This is a unique executive within your company, because it is their lack of direct authority and sole use of influence- That's the special sauce.  After a CoS tenure with a Team, it's not uncommon that they go onto become CEOs, entrepreneurs or senior executives at other companies.  This 3-part series will discuss the Concept of a Chief of Staff, Who makes a good one and where to find them and most importantly, How to properly use their talents. 

John Merris, CEO of Solo Brands, has spent a life trusting his gut and doing what he loves- Leading companies and building meaningful brands. John talks about the wisdom learned from growing up on a ranch in Texas and how lessons of doing worthwhile things the “Right” way, still influence and guide how he runs organizations today. Being the CEO of a public company means there is much more scrutiny on how you operate, but fortunately for John, this comes naturally. He believes that the best way to find success in your profession is to actually treat the company, like it’s your own- Take care of your environment, don’t mindlessly spend money and give it a 100%, every day. John believes that the key to building an unstoppable culture is NOT to try to build one- Instead, live out what you want your company values and ethos to be. Culture is built and sustained from the top and Leaders must serve as the example for others to follow- You should never expect your Teammates to do something you are not willing to do. Solo Brands is a Brand of Brands- Which means they really have to know who they are and how all their company stories (from Oru Kayak to Chubbies) resonates with their customers. John strongly believes that building a brand is about knowing how to tell your story and especially echoing why you matter to the world. Often times we can be mired by the things we build instead of the impact we make. Solo Brands is not a company that just makes innovative fire-pits and fun apparel, but they stand for helping folks create good moments that leave lasting memories. Brands are about what you believe and how you make people feel- Not what you make.

Joseph shares his experience about making decisions from a strong foundation and position of strength. It's human nature to make key decision on premises of failure, risk, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and disappointment, but you’ll find that making decisions that way often leads to a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. The decision itself is not important alone, but the successful execution of that decision is what often leads to triumph. When we make decisions, we can forget how important it is to ensure our own house is order, support systems are in place and if we can rally a belief of success. Operating from a place of strength is a mindset and mechanism that enables a violence of action, that ultimately breeds a winning outcome. Joseph shares how important it is to reflect on past wins that seemed effortless and dive into what else was going right for you, during that moment. You were likely in a good position, personally and professionally, which allowed you to have clearer thoughts and execute with swagger that enabled creative thinking, when you found friction. Circumstance won’t always be perfectly positive when making important decisions, but being aware of the cracks in your foundation will give you the grace, time or support needed to ensure a better outcome.

Kristin Kagetsu, CEO of Saathi Pads, is making the world a better place by providing those in need, basic necessities. This MIT engineer could have worked in many different cutting-edge industries, but her passion is to leave this world better than she found it. Kristin, Tarun (Co-Founder) and the Saathi Team work everyday to improve access, for women in need of sanitary pads. Kristin shares that this luxury is something we take for granted in the West, where we can simply go into a store, use self-check out and go about our day. In places like India, there is not only a lack of these sanitary products, but stigmas and culture taboos that prevent women from easily accessing these basic health and wellness needs. Kristin also shares that her journey is not only with sanitary products in mind, but to help other companies build more sustainable ways to manufacture. Lessons learned at Saathi, has showed Kristin and her Team that we can all help each other produce goods more responsibly.  Whether that is using incentives to deter plastic use or using waste from banana farmers to create sanitary pads, there are ways to produce more sustainably, that will actually help bring more economic prosperity to all involved.  Even though Saathi is a “For Profit”, its purpose and mission are more akin to a non-profit or NGO.  Kristin believes that making a profit is crucial to the sustainability of good companies, but the metrics which success is measured should rest on positive impact- Not just revenue.  Growing a company just to sell to another company, doesn’t seem to interest this entrepreneur.  Kristin shares the importance of company legacies and how we should all strive to leave the world with a lasting positive impact.

Joseph dives into the difference between Leaders and Managers.  Past podcast episodes reference this difference, but he unpacks what it means to Lead versus manage.  Both are important to business success, but these terms are often used interchangeably, which is problematic because of its loss of accountability.  Not all managers are Leaders and therefore, the lingo we throw around in business makes folks in positions of authority haphazardly think they have earned the respect of those they are supposed to be Leading- Not always true.  Leading is about service, humility, energy and momentum while managing is a process of completing objectives and achieving outcomes.  Being a manager is a position you hold, while being a Leader is a way of life- Even those not in positions of authority can be Leaders.  Managers are critical to the accomplishment of business objectives, but often in the "Business of People" it is the lack of Leadership that is a Team's # 1 struggle.  As we aspire to be the Leaders our Teams deserve, we should be mindful of how mastery in the craft is achieved.  You'll find that "Manager" is a responsibility that is given to you by those you follow, while "Leader" is given by those that follow you.

Joseph talks with Alex Santiago- West Point Grad, Combat Leader and Past Podcast Guest about Leaders in their careers, that made a difference and why.  What makes the best Leaders great are often the intangible things, which is why this profession and craft is an art.  Joseph and Alex share their experiences about folks who successfully Led with their heart and character first.  Even though these Leaders were often firm in their style, it was always complemented with fairness.  "Leader Presence" is also an aspect of Leadership that can be tough to quantify, but matters.  How a Leader talks, stands or conducts themselves (personally and professionally), impacts how their followers view them.  Joseph and Alex, also dive into the right way to empower your Team and embrace the burns that will come along the way.  A pitfall of many managers is to temporarily empower their employees and unintentionally retract that empowerment, but hovering over them as they march toward their objective/goal.  After time, employees become deflated and will only do the minimum to keep managers off their back.  On the other hand, great Leaders give trust to their Teammates and accept that the bumps along the way, are worth the growth of their Teams.  Joseph and Alex also share some simple ways to become better in the craft of Leadership- From active listening to owning your Teammate's growth, you can move one step closer to being the Leaders your Team deserves.

Joseph spends a few minutes talking about "Transparency" and how many operators, business owners and Leaders may not be going about it the right way.  Communicating good, bad or indifferent news is a best practice, especially when creating alignment and shared vision.  However, when that news is delivered to a Team who is not ready to productively receive it, then it becomes problematic.  As Leaders we need to spend more time preparing our Teams to absorb information from a point of strength, especially the bad stuff.  Educating our Teams about the game of business and its inherent risks, allows them to better operate within its construct.  Developing self-confident Teammates who possess a level of adaptability that can weather anything (market shifts, sales shortfalls, potential loss of job), should be the major focus of any Leader.  Empower others to stand on their own two feet and they'll move mountains.

Ross Mery, Master Mariner & Co-Founder of RCM Maritime, has lived a life on the open seas and is able to Captain any ship in the world.  Ross shares his journey of attaining the coveted "Master Unlimited" which allows him to Captain any ship, any size and anywhere.  He talks about the responsibilities of a ship Captain and hardships of being away from home for weeks and months at a time.  As he gained more and more expertise in the maritime industry, he became fascinated with the idea of creating a professional and personal life he could be proud of.  That is when he and Chuck(co-founder) decided to embark on their entrepreneurial journey.  Starting a maritime school from scratch was no easy endeavor, especially when there are already quite a few established giants.  Ross says that years of being a customer themselves and focusing on excellent customer service, was what set them apart and gave them a chance to succeed.  The early days of running a ship and school was challenging, but both Ross and Chuck over-communicated their goals, timelines and aspirations to achieve the life they wanted.  Ross also talks about the importance of picking the right co-founder and the traits you should look for, especially when there are two folks at the helm.  Trust, difference in perspective and shared values is what allows both co-founders to achieve their maximum potential and continue to reach new heights.  RCM Maritime continues to grow as a company and offers courses from advanced firefighting to Leadership training.  The maritime industry is one we all benefit from and Ross continues to look into the future and be a part of building the next generation of maritime professionals.    You can check out the RCM Maritime Team and their offerings at: www.rcmmaritime.com