THE 4 HATS OF A STARTUP COO
Wondering what, exactly, *is* the role a Startup COO? Here’s your new guide.
The role of a startup COO always contains elements from each of the four hats: Vision Architect (executive functions), Utility Player (management of the company, itself), Delivery Wizard (customer-supporting items), and Circus Director (role as a central part of the team), but the amount of time spent in each varies greatly by company stage.
Seed stage COOs will find much of their time absorbed by their company management demands, but as they grow to a Series A they’ll find that the customer delivery area needs executive leadership in order to establish the foundation for scale.
At Series B the company will cross the Dunbar threshold, so additional care being directed toward the culture and alignment within the team is critical. Then, at Series C and beyond there is usually a strong enough bench of executive expertise covering each functional area that the COO can focus in on an area they will create massive impact through: executive alignment and strategy.
VISION ARCHITECT
One of the most important things a COO brings to the team is the ability to translate a vision into an actionable strategy
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
MISSION
You bring the lens of ambitious reality to the selection of vision targets
STRATEGY
Bridge the path from vision to action with the best possible approach
ACTION PLAN
Full alignment and clarity across the org to deliver on strategy
NAVIGATE
What we need now + next, create a world where data guides
INFLUENCE
Keeping authenticity + buy-in a real part of life, even through change
DELIVERY WIZARD
Excellence in the customer experience is the bare minimum; you make it look easy (even through it’s not!)
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
ONBOARDING
Giving customers a positive start kicks off their LTV right
CUSTOMER SUCCESS
Deep utilization, expansion, and care ensures a high NRR
QUALITY
The success of the product depends on flow of info from customers
RETENTION
Low churn starts way before they say cancel, and you know it
SUPPORT
Efficient, helpful, and smart: you built the team that creates happy
UTILITY PLAYER
You are the ultimate swiss army knife. Don’t know how to xyz? You’ll always figure it out.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
FINANCE
Resource plans, cash flow, tax strategies, and much more
PEOPLE OPS
The heart of the culture comes from your care and attention
DATA
You track all the things and use numbers to find opportunities
BACK OFFICE
Legal, contracts, entities, compliannce, insurance... ALL the fun
ORG DESIGN
You'd never let those company stage changes catch you off guard
CIRCUS DIRECTOR
You keep everyone performing in sync, creating a magical experience for all
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
PERFORMANCE
Clear asks + abundant wins + decisive action = happy team
RITUALS
Scale depends on a solid SOP foundation and clear comms
ALIGNMENT
Clarity and focus across a matrixed orgnaization
ENGAGEMENT
Activating the wheel of self-motivation in each person
CONNECTION
Silo-busting cross functional care + genuine human moments
THE COO ROLE CHANGES
Your focus has to change along with the company as it moves through key stages of growth (headcount size)
BONUS ITEM: THE CEO vs COO LENS
Two very different but totally complimentary halves of a whole
There you have it!
The role of a startup COO is a big one, and one that changes quite a bit over time.
If you’d like help developing your skills in any of these areas or to simply better understand how to develop yourself and your COO career, coaching with Christie might be your perfect next step.