Being a great number 2 in the company takes hard work and dedication. If you want to be successful, here are 5 tips that will help you get there.
Number 2s are often the backbone of businesses. They may not have the title or the recognition that comes with being the top dog, but they make things happen. And if you want to be a great number 2, these five tips will help you get there.
- Alignment with the CEO vision
Being a great second-in-command isn’t just about doing your job well. You also need to be 100% aligned with the vision of the CEO. Only by knowing what you want to achieve as a company are you able to truly articulate and orchestrate all members of the team to get things done that get you closer towards the vision. If there is disalignment, chances are that even if you are doing everything right, it is not enough for the CEO. Instead, focus on being a team player and on being aligned with the company’s goals. Only then will you be able to make a positive impact and be a valuable member of the team.
2. Proactively report to the CEO
Proactively reporting to a CEO is key in order to increase transparency and awareness of what is happening in the company. This allows the CEO to provide expertise and knowledge, and can only happen if the CEO knows what is going on. CEO’s are great assets if they are aware of what is happening in the company, as this allows them to make judgement calls that will impact the entire organisation. However, if a CEO is not kept in the loop, their decisions can be flawed and this can have detrimental effects on the business. Doing so will increase transparency, awareness and ultimately help the business to prosper.
3. Be the eyes and the ears in the company
Being a COO is no easy feat. You have to be the “eyes and ears” of the company and have the emotional intelligence to filter which information is relevant to share with the CEO. The CEO needs to make decisions and needs to know which decisions to make. As the COO, you need to truly understand the team and what drives each member. This is not an easy task, but it is essential for the success of the company. If you can master this, you will be an invaluable asset to any organization.
4. You may think different, but should act together
There have been a few times in my career when I’ve been put in a difficult position by people trying to get a different answer from me than the one they heard from the CEO. It’s always been a hard position to be in, but with experience comes the maturity to understand that you don’t always have to think the same as the CEO, but you should always be aligned on the essentials. Whatever the CEO’s decision is, your role is to support it and give guidance on how to execute it. Being able to do that effectively is what separates the good employees from the great ones.
5. Manage the expectations with deadlines
Most CEOs are highly attached to the company vision. As COO, your focus should be on how to turn that vision into proper actions. You may want to shoot for the moon, but it’s important to manage expectations by setting deadlines and breaking down the vision into steps. This way, the CEO can understand what to expect at each stage. It’s also important to be able to adjust the plan as needed, in order to ensure that the company is always moving forward.
Becoming the best COO is not an easy task, but it is definitely worth the effort. Following these five principles can help you get there, and as you gain experience, you will continue to learn new ways to be successful. What have been your biggest challenges as a COO? How have you overcome them? Let us know in the comments below!
By Vasco de Matos Ramos
Vasco Ramos 
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