Chief Operating Officer (COO): Everything You Need to Know About This Important Role

Growth is one of the goals of most companies. I am not sure if companies want to make less money or reach fewer people.

A company cannot just make more money, reach new customers or grow a team overnight. This type of growth can be accomplished with intention and strategy from an experienced leader.

A qualified chief operating officer is important for a company to scale and grow. As a chief operating officer, you can lead this type of change. We will discuss the significance of the role, what a chief operating officer does, and the qualifications you need to become one.

If a company has a chief operating officer in place, this person knows the ins and outs of the business and industry and is often responsible for making sure the company's operational model is functioning properly.

The COO needs to know how key functions of the company work together to deliver a positive experience for the customer while reaching key business goals.

The average base salary of a chief operating officer was $145,467 per year in 2021, though this figure can vary depending on the company and the experience level of the candidate.

This role is different from the CEO. Once a company experiences a period of substantial growth and has public-facing activities, the CEO may begin focusing on external management of the company affairs and representing the company to the public. A COO may be brought on board to make sure the company handles its internal affairs properly.

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Let's cover what a COO does in their day-to-day job after knowing what a COO is and how the role differs from a CEO.

What is the job of a chief operating officer?

The chief operating officer is responsible for making sure the internal systems that make a company run smoothly are in good working order. They have to integrate the company's mission, vision, goals, and operations for strategic alignment and execution.

Key tasks can be done by a COO.

The company has daily operations.
Working directly with the CEO and other members of the c-suite to establish and implement the organizational vision, business strategy, and staffing plans.
Business budgets are created for financial growth and proper resource management.
Analyzing key data to understand the company's progress to key goals and objectives and make recommendations to improve performance

How to become a COO.

Do you want to be a chief operating officer? Do you want to become one in the future? Let's talk about what you need to do to get the job.

More than half of chief operating officers in the US have a bachelor's degree and 20% have a master's degree.

Many COO roles are filled internally. It means that leaders are usually promoted or appointed from within the company. If you want to become a COO, it is important to be aware of the fact that you won't see or have the opportunity to apply for external chief officer position roles.

You may want to consider working under an existing COO to gain experience and to put yourself in a better position to be appointed into the role down the line.

Experience can be a differentiating factor for potential COOs. The average COO has 10 to 15 years of relevant experience before they are hired.

Chief operating officers need experience in business operations, data analysis, problem-solving, leadership, and management to be successful on the job. As you become a COO, make sure you have relevant experience.

Chief operating officer candidates need more skills and qualifications.

Industry knowledge is an expert level.
Communication skills are strong.
The company has the ability to make strategic decisions.
Experience in identifying and implementing effective solutions.
A track record of successfully leading and managing teams.
Collaboration is cross-functional.
Project management skills are needed.

The role of chief operating officer provides a unique opportunity to leverage business expertise, strategic leadership, and operational support within one executive-level role to support the growth and future trajectory of a company.

December 24 2021, 7:00:00 AM has been updated.