COO is one of the most difficult roles to define. CFO, CEO, Legal, Product – all of these C-Level executives have rather straight forward responsibilities. Not to say that they are easy – far from it – but they are easier to quantify. So let’s examine some of the aspects of the role of the COO.
Strategy
A COO needs to be deeply involved in the formulation of the company strategy. This is in part because the COO is a key member of the leadership team but the main reason is that the COO will be the one to drive the tactical initiatives that will result in the strategy being achieved. The COO role is to drive and oversee the implementation of the strategy.
Blocking and Tackling
As discussed in Strategy, the COO ensures that the tactical elements get done correctly in order to achieve the strategic goals. To do this the COO must ensure that the day to day, the week to week work gets done according to the plan. The COO does this by implementing KPIs and documenting key metrics. This is analogous to the coach that ensure that the players are getting the work done in practice, in conditioning and in the weight room.
Counselor
The COO is often unique that the role can give guidance and support both up and down the chain of command. The big difference between the two is the time and setting of giving the advice. When guiding personnel the COO can chose to do it in a public or group setting if the feedback is positive or in a private setting otherwise. For advising the CEO, President or Chairman it is best to do that privately and confidentially. Those conversations are best kept out of the common discourse.
Enforcer
When decisions have been made - be they strategic, personnel or financial – it is the role of the COO to see those decisions through. Even if the COO does not agree. Especially if the COO does not agree.
It is the COO who oversee the execution of the strategy and the enforcement of the decisions made; but it is to be done in a way that shows respect to all the stakeholders: personnel, executives and investors. The COO does it in a way that gives the whole company purpose and a share in the success of a strategy well executed.
Bringing it all together
To an extent the role of the COO wild be determined by the industry of the COO’s company. A COO in manufacturing will have a different experience than a COO in software. There will be a lot that the two COOs will have in common. They will both work to develop and to drive the company strategy. They will oversee the tactical work that will see that strategy to fruition. They will both serve as both a counselor and an enforcer. And if perform their role well they will do it with humility and with purpose.
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