Understanding The Roles of a Chief Operations Officer in An Organization
In any organization, one of the main resources is people. Some organizations depend on human resources, and hence their success or failure directly depends upon the team working for them. Managing a successful team becomes very important because it requires delegation of duties to everyone according to their ability and keeping an eye on the performance of each individual in the team. One person responsible for this task is the chief operations officer (COO).
A chief operations officer (COO) is usually appointed in large organizations to look after the organization’s business process and day-to-day activities. His main responsibility is to support managers of different departments like finance, marketing, production, etc.
General Duties of A COO
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A COO, depending on the organization’s requirement, works under the supervision of the CEO or president. His primary duty is to plan, organize and coordinate day-to-day activities in the smooth running of an organization. He performs various other tasks like setting up goals for managers, recruiting new talent for the company, etc. Also, he should encourage employees to perform better and provide them with a good working environment to deliver their best. Other roles and responsibilities of a COO include:
1. Strategic Role Player
The chief operations officer plays a strategic role within a company by helping to establish overall business objectives. The chief operations officer also ensures that company-wide strategies are in place to help achieve the business objectives and ensure all departments are working toward these objectives.
2. Operational Leader
Once strategies have been defined, the COO is responsible for putting them into action by leading day-to-day decision-making processes. Chief operations officers such as Gregg Roman, Middle East Forum, ensure that company-wide operations are efficient and effective, overseeing departmental budget management, staffing levels, and day-to-day activities.
3. Strategic Business Partner
The COO is responsible for developing relationships with other key players in the industry to help gain a better understanding of the marketplace. These relationships can help companies achieve long-term success by giving them access to valuable industry knowledge and insight.
4. Team Facilitator
The chief operations officer acts as a team facilitator by helping leadership teams function more efficiently to accomplish business objectives. For instance, one of the COO’s responsibilities is to help align the goals of different departments within an organization, so everyone has a clear understanding of what their role is and how it contributes to achieving company-wide goals.
5. Employer Liaison
The chief operations officer is an employer liaison by building strong relationships with employees and acting as a resource. The COO also acts as an employer liaison by building relationships with hiring managers to ensure that roles are well defined, and the expectations for each job are communicated to new hires.
6. Internal Consultant
In a well-run organization, the chief operations officer is responsible for managing different individuals and ensuring that all business objectives are met or exceeded. As a chief operations officer in an organization, the Internal consultant provides necessary support to managers and employees by providing information regarding their respective areas.
The job is crucial in ensuring that important decisions are taken with complete information and knowledge of all relevant issues. At times, the chief operations officer may also be required to take over some responsibilities when managers or employees can no longer continue their roles.
7. External Liaison
Finally, the COO acts as an external liaison by developing relations with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. The COO might serve as primary contact for clients or other stakeholders to help ensure that all concerns are addressed promptly.
The role of the chief operations officer varies depending on the size of the company, the COO’s industry, their assigned duties, and whether they are an executive of a privately held company. However, the seven roles mentioned above are commonly seen in organizations across public and private sectors.