A COO can take on many different roles for different companies.

When searching for the role of COO, it becomes apparent the traditional role is serving as the company’s second-in-command who is responsible for the efficiency and growth of the business.”

COO responsibilities include:

  • Designing and implementing business operations
  • Establishing policies that promote company culture and vision
  • Overseeing operations of the company and the work of executives

The COO is a key member of the senior management team, reporting only to the Chief Executive Officer.

Another thing that is a constant in the role of COO’s is that there is no constant.  Many approach the role examining what they should bring to the table.  In an article in the Harvard Business Review, the author examined seven types of COO’s.

Those seven types are as follows:

The Executor who oversees day-to-day operations but also focuses on long-term challenges.

The Change Agent who focuses on the turnaround or a major organizational change occurring within the business.

The Mentor who brings the role of an older COO who helps mentor the younger people within the company with leadership roles to grow into their positions and obtain successful outcomes for the company.

The Other Half compliments the CEO’s strengths, experience, knowledge base, or penchants. 

The Partner works best as a partner to the CEO and this model is also known as “two in the box” style of leadership.

The Heir Apparent is a style of COO who is operating as the CEO elect.

The MVP is a COO who is offered the job as a promotion from within of an employee too valuable to use.  Companies use this technique to ward off poachers.

The seven roles are not mutually exclusives and many companies use a blend of them all.

Most of all, the COO owes the CEO respect and ego in check, while having an eye on execution of the growth of the company. Another good quality of a COO is being able to coach and direct others throughout the business.

It is also imperative that the COO is able to bring new ideas to the company that will encourage the growth of the bottom line overall.