It is difficult to pinpoint the origins of the chief of staff role. Perhaps it is innate that a leader should require a gatekeeper, strategic partner and implementer by their side. While we cannot definitively identify the first ‘chief of staff,’ the viziers of ancient Egypt provide a compelling look into similar roles throughout history.
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The Chief of Staff Association
Published: 23/06/2022 |
Viziers were second in command to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. A trusted advisor and leadership partner, the viziers of the pharaonic period were tasked with overseeing the daily functions of government and implementing special projects on behalf of the pharaoh.
The role of vizier was typically passed down through royal bloodlines to a trusted relative of the king.
Like the modern-day chief of staff, viziers had to be skilled at navigating complex organisations and interests in order to effectively oversee the pharaoh’s greater vision. Viziers were tasked with managing multiple departments, presiding over the agricultural, judicial, economic, military, and executive functions of government.
In this capacity, viziers were valued for being impartial, and thus able to balance multiple stakeholders without succumbing to organisational politics. Indeed, viziers are often depicted wearing white robes in Egyptian art to underscore their purity and neutrality. Additionally, viziers frequently served multiple pharaohs over the course of their careers, further demonstrating their non-partisanship. While viziers are said to be impartial, like chiefs of staff, their interests and responsibilities were in service to their principal.
Viziers were important gatekeepers and strategic partners. Viziers directed the flow of information to and from the pharaoh, determining when and how to brief their leader on important organisational matters. Additionally, a vizier needed to be educated across a wide range of subjects as they served as advisors to the pharaoh, helping to both guide and implement their principal’s policies across many segments of bureaucratic government.
Viziers offer an early example of a chief of staff figure. The viziers of ancient Egypt had tremendous influence as advisors, gatekeepers and implementers. Despite their importance to the governance of Egypt during the pharaonic period, their role in history is often overlooked.
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