Finding the right chief operating officer (COO) can be a turning point for your company. This vital C-suite role requires a unique skill set, plus, the individual you choose must be a good fit for your specific organization.  

Since candidates with different personalities, backgrounds, and leadership styles thrive in different environments and business concepts, how do you know who to choose? 

There are specific qualifications for ideal candidates based on your company’s industry or vertical market. But what are the top COO traits that really matter? In other words, what kind of professional do you (and your employees!) want to see in this position of operational leadership? 

As a Senior Recruiting Partner with Goodwin Recruiting, I’d like to share my observations. 

What today’s businesses want in a future COO 

I’ve seen firsthand how the best COO job candidates aren’t necessarily the ones who have the longest resumes or held the biggest titles. Smart business owners and hiring managers dig a lot deeper for a candidate who stands out and stands firm in all the right ways. 

What the best candidates possess are demonstrated strategic thinking and leadership skills. They are the ones who have already helped companies and people excel, even if they’ve never had tenure as a COO by title. They know how to do the job. 

They recognize when to step back and view the bigger picture, how to turn strategic goals into realities, and drive long-term company success. 

There are five professional characteristics that clearly separate these leaders from the rest of the pack in fulfilling their role and responsibilities and achieving operational excellence.  

Top leadership traits and skills in successful COOs 

Through in-depth interviews and ultimately, a company’s decision to hire the right person, what’s uncovered are top COO traits and associated skills that have been demonstrated throughout a candidate’s career. Here’s what they’re made of…

1. Proactive Problem Solvers and Barrier Breakers

A great COO is adaptable and makes decisions quickly based on facts. As the internal facilitator between the business owner or CEO and the rest of the organization, the COO leads execution toward smooth daily business operations and strategic growth. 

They continuously look for and engage employees in identifying areas for improvement and innovation. They listen to employees, use feedback to make decisions, and enact changes that bring about improvements and advancement – with the full buy-in of engaged employees and teams. 

“Strong leadership recognizes that great ideas can come from anywhere within the organization, allowing for faster identification of problems or potential opportunities.” – John Hall, Forbes Senior Contributor

2. Honesty and Humility

COOs have a lot of autonomy and the trust of company leadership, and with this comes the need for utmost integrity. You need a leader who will always do the right thing, keep your company, employees, and customers’ best interests front and center, and take ownership of the job without seeking recognition.  

The right chief operating officer knows true leadership isn’t about who gets credit. It’s about building a strong enterprise and moving people, customers, and the business forward.

3. Effective Communicators

A COO must have the ability to articulate the company’s mission and vision. They need to ensure employees not only understand what the company is trying to accomplish, but also, why it matters. Strong communicators build trust and bridge knowledge gaps, whether they’re in the boardroom or the breakroom.  

When done well, leadership communication inspires trust and positive change, and drives better outcomes for individuals, teams, and organizations. – Center for Creative Leadership 

4. Analytical and Strategic Thinkers

The smart COO uses business intelligence to make solid decisions. They analyze operations, performance, and predictive data. They look beyond the numbers, identify trends, and determine how to improve operations.

Factual insights are used to develop clear, strategic plans for the business and turn those plans into action, efficiently and seamlessly. 

5. Determination and Persistence

A truly great COO has a “let’s get this done” mentality – and it’s contagious. They never bump into a challenge they wouldn’t love to overcome, always approaching obstacles with grit and a healthy dose of optimism.  

Their secret sauce is engaging and motivating people and teams to move forward as one. When things get difficult, they stay focused, keep everyone informed and in sync, and find ways to transform barriers into progress that everyone can celebrate.  

Of all the leadership positions at today’s organizations, are there other key traits to look for when hiring a COO? Yes, because operations at every organization are different. Many qualities and experiences matter, depending on your company’s needs, culture, and stage of growth. 

Fill your COO role with confidence through an experienced executive recruiter 

Operational prowess is a combination of know-how, interpersonal skills, strategic vision, a deep understanding of how to manage daily operations – and a resolute willingness to take a company and its people to the next level, and the next.  

Let me help you navigate your search for the right candidate to serve as your chief operating officer. If you’d like to talk through this or any other senior executive or C-suite executive officer hiring needs, reach out and let’s have a conversation. 

My name is Marcia Recks and I am a nationwide recruiter partnering with companies across multiple industries. I specialize in sourcing top-tier operations and executive-level talent.