COO

Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for executing and implementing the operational directives set by the CEO and the board of directors. The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership of the company, the COO is 2nd in command and responsible for the day-to-day execution. COOs are instrumental in turning strategy into operational and financial success.

Great COOs have 4 attributes:

1. They are strategic with a focus on details. A successful COO balances a breadth of experience and knowledge with an ability to manage strategically. They keep their company’s high-level strategy front-and-center while understanding the details of day-to-day execution to ensure what needs to happen does happen. The COO role is the most common stepping stone to the CEO seat.

2. They appreciate talent. A good COO is a people person. They understand the business depends on talented individuals working. As they maintain the operations, they keep an eye out for ways to improve the company by constantly raising the level of talent through strong hires, and providing opportunities to develop existing team member skills.

3. They have no ego: The best COOs put the organization first. There is a total lack of ego. These COOs find ways time and again to highlight others. They will decline speaking engagements and instead give those opportunities to a business-line head or head of marketing.

4. They are data driven: The effective COO uses reliable data to guide decisions. Rather than allow the business to be guided by instincts, internal politics, hunches, or gut feelings, the best COOs will insist the business be driven by data.

ADVISORY TOPICS trending for COOs:

• Getting feedback on how to distill broad strategy into actionable plans.

• Having a sounding board for how to marry CEO expectations with the capabilities of the organization.

• Learning how other COOs manage competing visions from their senior leaders.