2nd in Command Archives

Why Every COO Needs a Peer Network to Grow Faster

Most COOs feel like they’re building the plane while flying it.They’re expected to execute flawlessly, scale systems, and keep culture intact — all while solving problems only another COO would understand. The truth? Even the best Second in Command can’t do it alone....

One-on-One Coaching: The Most Underrated Skill Every COO Needs

Most leaders think they’re coaching. But in reality, they’re just checking in. The difference? Coaching transforms people.Check-ins just track progress. If you’re a COO or senior leader, mastering one-on-one coaching might be the single highest ROI skill you can...

When to Hire a COO: 7 Signs Your Company Is Ready

Every founder dreams of scaling their business.But at some point, growth outpaces instinct. Deadlines slip, decisions bottleneck, and the CEO spends more time putting out fires than thinking about the future. That’s when the thought hits: “I need a COO.”The question...

COO Responsibilities: What a Chief Operating Officer Does Day to Day

Most CEOs can describe their own job in one sentence.Ask them what a COO does — and you’ll get ten different answers. That’s because the COO role isn’t one-size-fits-all. It evolves with the company’s stage, size, and the CEO’s strengths.But in every successful...

How COOs Can Prevent Burnout (Without Burning Out Themselves)

Burnout isn’t just an employee problem.It happens at the leadership level too — and COOs are especially at risk. Why? Because COOs carry the weight of execution. They’re the bridge between vision and reality, often caught in constant firefighting. But burnout isn’t...