The chief of staff role isn’t booming because companies suddenly got smarter about hiring — it’s booming because someone still has to do the coordination work that middle management used to handle. This article breaks down what’s really behind the 85% spike in chief of staff postings, why flatter org charts didn’t actually eliminate the problem they were built to solve, and what it means for leaders who can’t afford a $185K hire to patch the gap. You’ll learn why the role’s high turnover reveals a structural weakness, how to tell whether you need a chief of staff or a decision-making system, and what to fix before you post the req.