Chief of Staff and Communications Officer Collaboration: Real Stories of Effective Partnership
A strong partnership between a Chief of Staff and a Communications Officer can shape how a company thinks, speaks, and grows. This conversation shows how that partnership works in real life and why it matters early, not just later.
Key Takeaways
Communication is not a side task. It should be built from day one, just like finance.
The Chief of Staff is the connector. They align leadership, messaging, and execution across the company.
Proactive beats reactive. Waiting for a crisis to think about communication puts you behind.
Notable Quotes
“Communications is an art, it’s not a science.”
“You don’t want to be reactive, you want to be ready.”
“Communications should be thought of the same way as finance from the beginning.”
Real-World Applications
Build a communication culture early
Example: A startup with no budget assigns one person to own messaging. They document their mission and value clearly. This avoids confusion later when they grow.Use milestones to trigger communication support
Example: A company raising funding hires a short-term communications consultant to shape the announcement and media outreach.Define your story before scaling
Example: A founder prepares a simple narrative with origin, mission, and value. This becomes the base for investor pitches and hiring.
The best partnerships between Chiefs of Staff and Communications leaders are built on trust, clarity, and constant alignment. And when it works, communication stops being reactive. It becomes a core part of how the company operates and grows.
Time Stamps:
02:52 Working with a Chief of Staff
05:31 Communications Strategy for Startups
07:29 Building a Communications Culture
11:32 Internal vs. External Communications Resources
16:59 Traits of a Good Communications Officer
20:48 Onboarding Communications Resources
23:12 Crisis Communications and Lessons Learned
25:42 Challenges in Scaling Technology
27:55 Budget and Resource Allocation
30:18 Building Effective Communication Strategies tracy.vangrack@revolution.com
35:42 The Role of Chief Communications Officers
39:51 Brand Building and Storytelling
47:09 The Importance of Community in Brand Building
Links Mentioned:
Email Tracy Van Grack at tracy.vangrack@revolution.com
Connect with Tracy Van Grack on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracy-zuckerman-van-grack-b7019414
Follow Tracy Van Grack on X: @tvangrack
Connect with Michael Patino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-patino-610215
Email Michael Patino at michael@patinoassociates.com
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.