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Anybody joining Barclays on 11.11.2022(tomorrow)
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Which hotel has the best soap?
People who don't use Oxford commas are barbarians.
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I like to think of it like a Swiss Army knife role. When my Partner needs to solve a problem or implement change, I’m the person he trusts to develop a plan and know which teams to engage/brief. I use my network to make it happen swiftly & precisely, juggling across multiple strategic priorities. I work closely with the COO, but he’s much more consumed by BAU. CoS is great for senior visibility, understanding the business machinery & politics, and honing persuasion & negotiation skills. I’m lucky that my Partner is an ambitious and charismatic leader, I’m learning a ton.
This is a great summary of the roles
CoS role can be anywhere on the spectrum of true right-hand person, trusted to make plans for XYZ, make decisions to some degree on their behalf, etc - and then yeah some are admin/assistant where it’s just managing calendars and ghost writing emails. I’d be intentional about talking with your MD about what is and isn’t your role
The role can be great and impactful but it’s reliant on how the exec’s office is set up. Without a super strong admin team, the CoS role will always lean administrative. With a great admin, I’ve found the role strategic and high vis.
CoS is such a broad ambiguous title. I’ve seen great CoS opportunities and glorified assistant / project managers.
The comp says a lot about the value of the position. If it’s less than $250k, I’d be cautious
Even if it is 50/50 PMO, the sponsors are your daily stakeholders. Are those people you want to know your name, or people you already have relationships with? If the former, that far outweighs a lot of other things.
lol @ “MD’s little bitch”
Aren’t we all MDs little bitches unless you’re a high performing level below MD??
Chief
This comes up about once a week. I recommend searching, there have been some great conversations about CoS roles.
I searched and swiped up several times to skim threads and this specific topic didn’t come up. Feel free to share a link!
Definitely depends on the role. You could also try the CAM role
Client Account Manager
I've seen CoS that practically play the role of Chief Strategy Officer, or a "hand of the king [or queen]" like role. Others are glorified bag carriers. If the former, it is often a stepping stone into a P&L owning role in the same business.
When assessing a CoS role, I think the most important thing is to find out what prior people in the role moved on to afterwards. Oh and make sure the CEO (or whoever you are CoS for) is someone you don't hate!
Love this advice! Currently figuring out if I like the COO (and if they like me). 😂 This is a new role and will be their first time having a CoS, but most Chiefs in the broader org stay Chiefs for a loooong time or exit to bigger roles.
Visibility?
COO role is what you want
Thoughts on CoS for a COO? I’m not a Chief right now, but the path to CoS is very clear. Since it’s for a COO, I’m in an operations role right now -hopefully that makes sense.
It’s an executive assistant role.
Silly C-Suite role invented in the last 5 years that does nothing but make the org more top heavy and shuffle off responsibility on someone else.
Damn, how long have you been a CoS?