
Why “How Can I Help You?” Is a Dangerous Question for Chiefs of Staff
From Leveraging Leadership by Emily Sander
March 25, 2026 · 9 min · Season 1 · Episode 266
About this episode
Emily Sander discusses why Chiefs of Staff should avoid asking 'How can I help you?' and offers strategies for effective leadership.
This episode explains why Chiefs of Staff should avoid asking "How can I help you?" and instead focus on what will move the needle for their principal and team. Emily Sander shares real pitfalls, like getting stuck with small admin tasks, and suggests specific strategies such as spotting communication breakdowns or coaching leaders through challenges. The advice includes leading with strategic proposals rather than just picking up tasks others want to hand off. Get in touch with Emily: Want ...
People in this episode
Host: Emily Sander
Topics covered
- Chiefs of Staff
- leadership
- communication
- strategic proposals
- team management
- administrative tasks
Keywords
- Chiefs of Staff
- leadership strategies
- communication breakdowns
- administrative tasks
- team dynamics
- coaching leaders
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