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Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Ep. 373 - How to Control the Controlling CEO

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management, Careers

4.5 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2024

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron explores the crucial role of directly addressing the potentially detrimental behavior of CEOs, especially their tendency to be overly controlling. He likens this to the tale of the emperor's new clothes, emphasizing the importance of honest feedback to help CEOs realize how their actions may be counterproductive. Cameron stresses the necessity of communicating such insights privately and tactfully, to appeal to the CEO's aspirations and to prevent defensive reactions. This approach aims to make the CEO aware of the impact of their behavior on the company's success and their personal reputation, encouraging a more open-minded attitude towards change.

In a separate but related insight, Cameron shares the genesis of The COO Alliance, an initiative born out of his experiences as a second-in-command feeling out of place among entrepreneurs at various events. The Alliance serves as a global community for seconds-in-command to exchange knowledge, build networks, and gain confidence, away from the overshadowing presence of CEOs. This environment fosters growth and learning among these vital yet often overlooked corporate figures, enabling them to better manage and complement the entrepreneurial spirit. The episode underscores the delicate balance required in guiding COOs without quenching their inherent innovativeness and drive, highlighting the nuanced role of second-in-commands in steering companies towards success.

Enjoy!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

  • How direct and honest feedback is crucial for CEOs to realize the negative impact of their controlling behavior on the company's success and their personal image. (0:00)
  • Cameron's motivation for starting The COO Alliance, stemming from his personal experiences of feeling out of place at entrepreneur-focused events. (0:58)
  • The critical role that the second-in-command plays in balancing the CEO's entrepreneurial spirit with practical business operations. (0:58)
  • The significance of addressing sensitive issues privately and tactfully with CEOs to avoid defensive reactions and encourage receptiveness to change.  (2:44)
  • The strategy of waiting for the right moment to provide feedback to CEOs, based on their readiness to learn and adapt. (4:46)
  • And much more...

Resources:

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

I'm Cameron Herald, the founder of the Second Command Podcast.

0:03.0

Really quick, before we jump into today's episode,

0:05.0

you need to know about two important ways that we can help you and your company grow.

0:09.0

Number one, check out the COO Alliance.

0:12.0

It's for C.O.

0:13.4

Presidents, BP Ops, or whoever is your company's second in command to the

0:17.2

CEO. The C.O. Alliance is the world's leading community for the

0:21.1

second in command command and it gives

0:22.8

COOs the tools and connections to grow themselves and the company.

0:27.2

Head over to C.O.Aliance.com to learn more about our members and the

0:30.8

results, the program, and our 10X guarantee. If you qualify for membership,

0:35.6

you can set up a complimentary call with our team to discuss if it's right for you. I'll tell you

0:40.0

about number two in a bit, but first let's start this week's episode.

0:43.2

I always try to appeal to what really matters to the CEO.

0:47.9

Our job is to make them look good. Our job is to help them make their dreams happen or make their vivid vision come true.

0:54.5

So you need to show them that what they're doing with being so controlling is hurting them.

0:59.1

You just say, you can do it, but it's kind of like the Emperor's new suit. You know the Emperor's getting this fancy clothing made and

1:05.4

the tailor's telling them they look perfect meanwhile we know that there's no suit at all. We know they're

1:10.0

naked. Someone needs to tell them that they're naked, someone needs to tell them that they're naked.

1:13.0

Welcome to the Second in Command Podcast, produced by the C. Alliance and brought to you by its founder,

1:25.0

Cameron Herald. In the Second in Command Podcast, we talked to top COOs who

1:30.3

share the insights, strategies, and tactics that made them the chief behind the chief.

...

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