Ep. 447 - The COO Conundrum: Alternatives That Might Just Work Better

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management, Careers

4.5 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 6 February 2025

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron explores the question of whether businesses truly need a Chief Operating Officer or if alternative solutions would be more cost-effective and practical.

Many business leaders assume they need a high-level executive to manage operations, but taking that step prematurely can lead to unnecessary costs, friction, and even structural upheaval. Before committing to a major hire, it’s essential to assess the true gaps in the business—because sometimes, the best solution isn’t a full-time executive at all.

You'll learn why a well-placed assistant or a specialized department head might resolve bottlenecks without the financial and organizational burden of a second-in-command. Even when higher-level coordination is required, alternative options — such as bringing in an experienced leader on a part-time or project basis — can provide flexibility while maintaining control over costs and responsibilities.

This episode shows the reasons why, before making a major commitment, leaders must evaluate whether they’re solving the right problem — and whether there’s a smarter, more scalable way forward.

If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

Why hiring a COO too soon can be a costly mistake — and what to consider before making the commitment.
When a functional department head, such as a CFO or VP of Technology, might be a better fit than a COO.
The benefits of hiring a Fractional COO as a flexible, cost-effective alternative for scaling operations.
How to assess whether a COO will truly add value to your business and align with long-term goals.
And much more...

Resources:

Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn

Get Cameron’s latest book "Second in Command: Unleash the Power of your COO"

Get Cameron’s online course – Invest In Your Leaders

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Cameron Harold, the host of the Second Command podcast. Before we dive in, there's something you need to know.
0:05.5	If you're a C-O-O-V-P operations or you're in any role where you're the second-in-command to the CEO,
0:12.1	the C-O Alliance is the place for you. If you're the integrator to the visionary, you're going to want to join us.
0:18.4	The C-O Alliance is the world's leading community for the second command.
0:22.4	We've had over 500 members like you join from 17 countries to grow their skills,
0:27.6	connections, and confidence.
0:29.1	You'll get the tools, friendships, and a 10x guarantee to ensure that you get your
0:33.6	money's worth.
0:34.6	Go to COOalliance.com to learn more and see if you qualify.
0:39.0	You can even book a free call with our team to ask questions. Now let's jump into this week's
0:43.3	episode.
0:49.7	Welcome to the Second and Command podcast, produced by the C.O. Alliance and brought to you by its founder, Cameron Harold.
0:58.2	In the Second in Command podcast, we talk to top COOs who share the insights, strategies, and tactics that made them the chief behind the chief.
1:07.4	And now, here's your host, Cameron Harold.
1:14.2	This is... And now, here's your host, Cameron Herald. This episode of the Second Command podcast, we're going to do a deep dive on whether or not you need a C-O.
1:21.1	Why do you need that second in command?
1:23.3	What leverage is it going to bring into your company?
1:25.6	Is it something that you actually should be doing now or maybe should you have done it earlier? And how do you actually decide if you bring one in and what the real ROI is going to be? Or as I call it, what's the COI? What's the cost of inaction of not bringing a COO into the company? I can tell you for sure when Brian, who is the CEO of 1800800-Got Junk, brought me into his company back 20-odd years ago, we got massive leverage, and that's
1:49.2	where a lot of the scale comes from. So today, we're going to talk about if you need a COO, and how
1:53.5	do you know? We'll see you on the inside. I like making money, and I like saving money.
2:02.0	So let's start by saving you $250,000 with a simple piece of advice.
2:06.4	Don't hire a COO if you don't need one.
	...

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