GUIDELINES TO NRDC feb 24 2014

The Staff Officer's World, ContinuedThe staffSupervisors,senior staffofficers, andcommandersLife on aheadquartersstaffAttributesA staff exists to serve a commander and support subordinate commanders andstaffs. It frees a commander from myriad details of running a complexorganization, by managing functional areas such as personnel, logistics, orresource management. A staff also helps a commander make decisions byproviding information and making recommendations.A staff officer works for many bosses. Your relationships with other staffsexpose you to supervisors, senior staff officers, and commanders at severallevels, both inside and outside an organization. Interacting with these folks isan exciting experience and a means for professional growth.Examples:x Immediate supervisor.x Division chief.x Secretary of the General Staff (SGS).x Executive officer.xxxxChief of staff.Commanding general.Project manager.Staff officer from a sister service.Tip: When working with other bosses, always inform your immediate boss onthe situation.The staff environment in a major headquarters, while exhilarating, is alsodemanding. This atmosphere is characterized by--x A sense of urgency surrounding issues and actions.x Unexpected questions.x Proximity to flag officers and senior executives.x High volume of actions handled every day.x Necessity for extensive coordination.x Challenge and frustration of getting folks to support a position.x Crash projects.x Short deadlines and lack of resources to meet them.x In-boxes that remain full.The next four sections describe attributes required for surviving in thishighly charged environment, including ability to--x Anticipate requirements.x Display initiative.x Seek or follow guidance.x Maintain perspective.NRDC GRC – Staff Handbook 2-3