meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Ep. 511 - How to Hire the Right COO Without Making a Costly Mistake

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Business, Entrepreneurship, Careers, Management

4.9 • 225 Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2025

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Thinking about hiring a second in command? Getting it wrong can stall your growth, drain your energy, and wreck your culture. Getting it right can unlock scale, freedom, and balance.

In this solo episode, Cameron Herold, founder of the COO Alliance and author of Second in Command, walks you through how to start the process of hiring a COO. He explains how to build a scorecard, define the role with precision, and identify the yin to your yang, so you can avoid a bad “marriage” and find the partner who actually complements your strengths.

Cameron also shares why the CEO and COO should sit at the bottom of the org chart supporting their team, how to lean into your Vivid Vision to reverse-engineer the right fit, and why clarity on your weaknesses is the single most powerful step you can take before you hire.

If you’re a CEO considering a second in command, this episode gives you a proven roadmap for making one of the most important hires of your career.

Highlights

  • [00:30] – Why great COOs are rarely “on the market” and where to actually find them
  • [01:27] – The scorecard exercise that reveals exactly who you need
  • [02:11] – How to spot the yin to your yang (and avoid culture clashes)
  • [03:43] – Why you don’t have to be the cheerleader CEO if that’s not you
  • [05:00] – Flipping the org chart upside down: why CEOs and COOs belong at the bottom
  • [06:08] – Using your Vivid Vision to clarify the COO role before you hire
  • [08:00] – Why “Who Not How” should guide your hiring decisions
  • [09:32] – The mistake of trying to become good at what you suck at and what to do instead
  • [12:12] – Why hiring a COO is more like marriage than recruitment
  • [13:28] – Why most CEOs who ask Cameron to be their COO would be a terrible fit

Resources & Mentions


Important Links


The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

It was a strategic business move for them to offer more products on their website.

0:06.4

It was a lot of work for them and they're not going back for adding that stuff onto their

0:11.1

website. At the end of the day, it's just bullshit.

0:14.1

But you can see their point or no?

0:15.5

I do to some degree. Like, we've, our operations have, have lagged for, I understand their decision for making it

0:23.1

happen for adding the competitors to their sites and advertising and selling the other product.

0:29.4

But we've also made large efforts as a supplier to correct our mistakes.

0:40.0

Welcome to the Second in Command podcast, produced by the C.O. Alliance and brought to you by

0:46.4

its founder, Cameron Harold. In the Second in Command podcast, we talk to top COs who share

0:52.6

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

0:57.8

And now, here's your host, Cameron Harold.

1:04.7

Today, we tackle one of the toughest decisions of business leader faces, parting ways with those who don't align with

1:11.1

company values, even when substantial revenue is at stake.

1:15.2

We discuss the scenario involving firing distributors who violate contracts and race to the bottom

1:20.4

on pricing.

1:21.9

This episode highlights the importance of maintaining standards, the financial implications,

1:27.0

and how such actions can boost internal

1:29.2

team morale and send a clear shot across the bow to others.

1:37.3

I had a question. So we have started the talks of firing a couple of our distributors for not matching our values as a

1:49.9

business. And it's a huge piece of revenue that's, I guess, a little, gives me a little bit of

1:56.9

anxiety. And I guess, like, has anybody done this in the past? Can they share any

2:01.9

experiences? Just any type of information or experience share? I'd love to hear it.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Second in Command with Cameron Herold, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Second in Command with Cameron Herold and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.