What does a COO do day-to-day?

One of the most crucial roles in any successful business is the Chief Operating Officer or COO. As an entrepreneur, you probably want to be focused on the visionary, creative, or strategic aspects of

your business, but to take things to the next level to grow and scale, you really need someone who can manage the day-to-day operations and keep everything running smoothly. That's where the COO comes in. So what does a COO do exactly? At a high level, a COO is responsible for overseeing all the operational aspects of a business, and that includes everything from sales and marketing to production, customer service, finance, and more. The COO is the person who makes sure that everything is running like a well-oiled machine, and that the business is meeting its goals and objectives.

Some of the specific day-to-day duties that a COO might have include developing and executing the company's strategy. The COO is responsible for working with the CEO to develop the company's overall strategy and ensure that it's being executed effectively. This involves creating a roadmap for growth, setting goals, and developing plans to achieve those goals.

The second one is managing day-to-day operations. The COO oversees the day-to-day activities of the company ensuring that everything is running smoothly and efficiently. This includes managing people, resources and processes, as well as dealing with any issues that arise.

The third one is improving efficiency and productivity. One of the key roles of a COO is to identify areas of the business that can be improved to increase efficiency and productivity. This might involve streamlining processes, automating tasks, or implementing new systems and technologies.

The fourth one is managing finances. The COO is often responsible for managing a company's finances, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. They may also be responsible for securing funding or managing investor relations. They would not, however, be involved in the bookkeeping or tax side of things. This is usually done by CFO or an external tax agent, accountant, or bookkeeper. Number five is to lead and manage the team. As the COO, you'll likely be responsible for managing a team of employees and contractors which might also include managers, supervisors, and individual contributors. This means hiring, training, and evaluating staff, as well as delegating responsibilities and setting expectations. In many ways, the COO is the backbone of a successful business. Without someone in this role, it's really easy for things to fall through the cracks and for the business to lose sight of its goals and objectives.

If you are considering hiring a COO for your business, it's important to find someone who has the skills and experience needed to excel in this role. Look for someone who has a proven track record of success, as well as strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, but most of all it will need to be someone you work well with, you can take feedback from and trust their expertise.

In summary, a COO is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a business, developing and executing the company's strategy, improving efficiency and productivity, managing finances, and leading and managing teams. It's a critical role that can help take your business to scale and grow to the next level. Make sure you find the right person for this partnership. If you're looking for someone to fulfil this role in your business, please reach out to me. I know a lot of amazing and capable COOs who are looking for a great partnership. Have a productive day!