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

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

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

• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Ben Hardy

Important Links

• Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn
• Explore the COO Alliance - The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in Command
• Get Cameron’s book: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO Book
• Take his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)
• Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi

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.