The Impact of Mentorship on Becoming a Top Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff Leslie Lulham attributes her professional growth to the impact of mentorship, which she discusses in "The Impact of Mentorship on Becoming a Top Chief of Staff.”
Key Takeaways:
Diverse Experiences: A Chief of Staff benefits significantly from a varied background, including roles such as executive assistant, project manager, and operations. Leslie's experience in live television and tech helped her manage diverse tasks.
Mentorship and Trust: A supportive principal can significantly boost a Chief of Staff's confidence and leadership presence. Leslie’s principal encouraged her to stand on her own and overcome intimidation.
Awareness of Titles: Being aware of how titles affect interactions is important for effective communication and collaboration. Leslie recognized the need to proactively engage with team members to avoid unintended intimidation.
Notable Quotes:
"Do what scares you most because that is where you will grow the most professionally".
"Your body's physical response to stress and anxiety is the same thing as excitement; it's how you frame it in your head".
"Titles precede people".
Real-World Applications:
HR Support: Provide coaching and support to team members, addressing their concerns and celebrating achievements. Leslie enjoys partnering with her colleagues in an HR capacity, supporting them through various situations.
Overcoming Intimidation: Recognize and address feelings of intimidation by reframing stress as excitement. This mindset shift can boost confidence and improve performance in high-pressure situations.
Building Scalable Processes: Use low-code tools and AI to automate tasks and improve efficiency as a company grows. Leslie taught herself low-code tools to automate processes and utilize AI for brainstorming and drafting.
Leslie's insights provide a comprehensive view of the Chief of Staff role and highlight the importance of mentorship, adaptability, communication, and continuous growth. Her experiences and advice offer valuable lessons for anyone aspiring to or currently working as a Chief of Staff.
00:51 Guest Introduction: Leslie's Journey into Tech
01:03 Leslie's Career Path and Transition into Tech
03:06 Leslie's Experience in Project Management
05:55 Leslie's Career Shift and Life Mottos
06:53 Introduction to Marketer Hire
09:14 Leslie's Role as Chief of Staff at Marketer Hire
14:50 The Evolution of Leslie's Role at Marketer Hire
20:26 Working Styles and Relationship with the Principal
23:15 Effective Communication with Principals
23:47 Adapting to Asynchronous Work
24:52 The Power of Bullet Points
25:18 Building Leadership Presence
25:44 Overcoming Intimidation and Imposter Syndrome
28:53 The Importance of Preparation and Authenticity
33:11 The Impact of Titles and Perceptions
38:28 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Sports
40:24 Wrapping Up the Conversation
Bonus: Find out which NFL player is like a Chief of Staff!
Reach out to Leslie Lulham:
Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn
Check out MarketerHire
About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.