Chief operating officers (COOs) play an important but often overlooked role. While CEOs are widely known for setting the overarching business mission and vision, COOs manage the day-to-day operations and functions that contribute to the achievement of that mission and vision.
With COOs being a critical component of the executive leadership team, hiring the right person is of utmost importance. To narrow down candidates and find the best fit, 19 Forbes Business Council members share key traits or skills to look for when hiring a COO, as well as what these characteristics reveal about a candidate’s potential for success.
1. The Ability To Strategically Execute
In my organization, the COO plays a critical role in bridging vision with successful execution. This person translates strategic goals into actionable and scalable plans and processes. Achieving this requires balancing innovation, growth, compliance and operational efficiency—a complex challenge that is key to sustainable success. The key trait in conquering this challenge is strategic execution. – Kevin Jones, Celero Commerce
2. Grit And Resilience
The ideal COO is a gritty and resilient leader who thrives in the face of challenges. Operations are unpredictable, so COO candidates need a “get it done” attitude and analytical skills to solve problems and keep things moving. They must be a team player, empowering others to excel while remaining humble themselves. The perfect cultural fit is key, so look for someone who embodies your values and puts the customer first. – Johnny Hecker, Consensus Cloud Solutions
3. Listening Skills
The ideal COO must have incredible listening skills. They should be able to interact with employees at all levels, making sure each one feels heard and understood. This soft skill is surprisingly hard to find, so I ask specific interview questions to judge whether someone possesses it like, “How would you handle negative feedback from a member of the leadership team?” – Emily Reynolds Bergh, R Public Relations Firm
4. Problem-Solving Skills
Exceptional problem-solving skills are important. The COO, acting as the “fixer,” needs to rapidly diagnose and resolve operational bottlenecks, adapt to dynamic market conditions, facilitate cross-functional collaboration and leverage data for informed decision making. This ensures smooth operations, efficient resource allocation and continuous improvement, ultimately driving the company’s success. – Wayne Liu, Perfect Corp.
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5. Strong Operational Leadership
I prioritize individuals with strong operational leadership, as well as cultural and emotional intelligence. A COO’s role is not just about ensuring efficiency across teams but also about fostering a collaborative and empathetic work culture, as well as understanding the needs of each team member. This combination of skills ultimately drives long-term organizational success. – Muraly Srinarayanathas, Computek College
6. Optimism
Look for optimism, not confidence or “swagger.” Does the candidate have an optimistic view of the future? Of the company? Of themself? If attitude is everything—and it often is—optimism is the catalyst for a company’s success. – Henry Delozier, GGA Partners
7. Honesty
You want someone who isn’t afraid to be straightforward and give you bad news before it becomes awful news. You also want someone who is confident enough in their abilities to tell you when your ideas won’t work or need to be modified. It’s helpful when a COO can be compassionate and empathetic when navigating difficult terrain, especially on the staffing front. – Dr. David Lenihan, Tiber Health
8. Strategic Empathy
One key trait I look for in a COO is strategic empathy—the ability to understand and align the needs of the business with the people driving it. A great COO not only thinks analytically but also builds trust and fosters collaboration across teams. This balance ensures operational excellence while creating a culture where employees feel valued and empowered to perform at their best. – Miriam Groom, Mindful Career
9. Proactivity
When hiring a chief operating officer, I prioritize proactivity, particularly when it comes to identifying and managing risks. A strong COO should be financially prudent and capable of highlighting potential challenges without being risk-averse. This balance ensures that a bold and visionary CEO has the critical insights needed to make informed decisions while maintaining forward momentum. – Irma Becerra, Marymount University
10. Courage
Courage is a critical trait for a COO. Courage enables someone to have hard conversations, ask difficult questions and be honest. It gives people the freedom to dream and to pursue that dream with the belief that realizing it really is possible. Courage empowers us to do anything that is hard and worth doing, such as running a business. It also inspires trust and confidence, which are both essentials for a COO. – Brad Benbow, Prolific
11. Patience
One key trait I prioritize when hiring a chief operating officer is patience. In operations, challenges and tasks don’t always present themselves immediately; they often become apparent only as the broader picture unfolds. Patience is essential to fully assess each situation, allowing a COO to understand the complexities and nuances before making decisions or addressing issues effectively. – Ben Neuberg, Thrivewell Infusion, LLC
12. A Level Mindset
Always look for a level-headed, calm and collected COO. Because the role requires juggling multiple things at once while also putting out fires, the COO must be able to handle everything thrown at them. They must also typically manage a staff with different personalities and skill sets. Having a COO who can manage a roller coaster of people is vital to an organization’s success. – Georgia Godfrey, Foresight Strategies
13. Communication Skills
When hiring a COO, consider their communication skills. A great COO serves as a bridge between your organization’s strategic vision and operational execution. This requires the ability to articulate priorities clearly, align teams and manage stakeholders effectively. With good communication skills, they can ensure that all team members understand key goals, driving better collaboration and execution. – Nikolaus Kimla, Pipeliner CRM
14. The Ability To Transform Chaos Into Clarity
I look for a COO who can turn chaos into clarity. It’s not just about operational skills—it’s about having the ability to distill complexity into actionable steps while keeping the team aligned. A great COO isn’t just the “how” behind your vision; they’re the glue that holds the momentum together. – Dr. Christina Carter, Her Practice®
15. Being A Fearless Process Architect
I look for a fearless architect who can transform grand visions into bulletproof processes. Great COOs don’t just maintain order; they turn chaos into clarity while staying laser-focused on the bigger mission. If they can spot friction points and fix them swiftly, they’ll keep the entire operation humming—allowing everyone else to push boundaries and innovate. – Kolja Brand, Aurum Future
16. Pragmatism
Being pragmatic is definitely a key trait we were looking for before appointing our current exceptional COO. Overseeing our company’s daily operations, aligning initiatives and driving projects with an empathic yet level-headed approach are all tasks that demand a pragmatic mindset. – Zsuzsa Kecsmar, Antavo AI Loyalty Cloud
17. The Ability To Thrive In Chaos
I look for a COO who thrives in chaos but creates calm for everyone else. They need to be decisive under pressure and able to turn big ideas into organized action. Vision is great, but execution is everything. A COO who can lead with clarity and steady the ship—no matter how rough the waters—becomes the backbone of sustainable growth, and can organize a team to get there. – Aleesha Webb, Pioneer Bank
18. A Proven Track Record
Basic isn’t always simple. Seek a COO with a proven track record of building and systematizing operations. They should have an obsession with creating scalable processes that work without their constant oversight. If they can’t create systems that run without them, they’ll become a bottleneck rather than an accelerator for growth. True operational excellence means the business thrives even when they’re on vacation. – B.D. Dalton, Rockfine Group
19. Humility
When selecting an executive who will be responsible for the performance of a major part of the company, I look for humility. I don’t believe any individual has all the answers, particularly if they are changing industries. I want my COO to bring all their accumulated business expertise to bear, but also be open to learning from others who have long experience in our space. – Cameron Deemer, DrFirst
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