Leading Through Change: How to Support an EA’s Transition to Chief of Staff
It’s one of the most common—and most complex—transitions we see: when an Executive Assistant steps into a Chief of Staff role supporting the same leader.
It’s a move that holds incredible potential, but it all hinges on one critical factor: the leader’s positioning. In fact, this exact topic recently came up during our October Virtual Cohort and deeply resonated with so many in the room.
Many leaders are excited and supportive when promoting their EA to Chief of Staff, but without intentional communication, it can create friction, confusion, and major positioning challenges.
We can talk all day about how EAs can build authority and take on more strategic responsibility, but there’s no way this move succeeds without the leader’s full, public support. And that starts with one thing: Change Management.
Change Management isn’t about process, it’s about people. Helping people through change. And because everyone absorbs change differently, communication needs to be clear, consistent, and repeated through multiple channels.
What leaders must do to support a successful transition from EA to COS:
1. Talk about it in 1:1s
Share the change directly with each team member so they understand what’s shifting and why.
2. Announce it in team meetings
Reinforce the shift publicly and model your support.
3. Send a team-wide email
Capture the key details in writing so expectations are clear and consistent.
4. Share an org-wide update
Ensure clarity beyond your immediate circle, especially for cross-functional partners who will interact with your new Chief of Staff.
5. Include these essentials in every message:
Your excitement for the change
Why the person earned the role
The business impact this shift will enable
What responsibilities they’ll hand off
What responsibilities they’ll step away from
Where to go for those responsibilities now (don’t skip this one!)
If you’re the EA stepping into this new position, you’ll likely be the one driving much of this plan and partnering with your leader to make it happen—which, let’s be honest, is already very Chief of Staff of you.
When the transition from EA to Chief of Staff is done right, it sets the tone for a strong partnership built on trust and influence.
Final Thoughts
Every great transition starts with great communication. When a leader takes the time to communicate clearly, champion their new Chief of Staff, and manage the change intentionally, it doesn’t just smooth the path, it strengthens the foundation of leadership across the entire organization.
Have you gone through the EA-to-CoS transition with your leader? We’d love to hear what made it successful (or challenging) for you. Share your experience with us or join the conversation inside our CoS community on Facebook.
Ready to make your move from EA to Chief of Staff?
If you’re preparing for this transition, or already navigating it, our Free Resource Library is packed with practical tools to help. You’ll find templates to help you define your new responsibilities, document what’s shifting, and build a plan and timeline for a seamless change.
Set yourself up for success. Visit our Free Resource Library here.