CEOs: What is the biggest challenge you face in a leadership position? There are plenty to choose from, being at the helm of your company! There’s really no playbook for being an effective leader. It’s also important to remember that leadership isn't simply about “directing” others. It...
CEOs: When you get to the end of your day, how do you generally feel? Like you accomplished everything you wanted to and have a sense of confidence about your company’s performance? Or, like there is never enough time (including “thinking time”) to achieve all of your...
C-suite leadership: Do you have a “recipe” for success within your organization? Like any recipe, it might stray from the ingredients/instructions from time to time. Experienced chefs often take liberty with a traditional recipe. Anyone who has ever seen a show on the Food Network can...
C-suite folks: If someone asked you, “What does the day in the life of a [CEO/COO/CFO] look like?” what would be your answer? I’m asked that quite often, and my first thought is that there’s nothing typical about a C-suite role. Every day is different, which...
After years of working in and around nonprofit organizations, one thing has become crystal clear to me: nonprofits need a Chief Operating Officer (COO). While the importance of a CEO is indisputable, the role of a COO is often overlooked—especially in the nonprofit world. There’s typically...
CEO. COO. These are the roles I find crucial to any business. Agree or disagree? I’m happy to debate! I will concede that it's easy for the lines between these roles to get blurred, especially in startups and smaller companies. Why does this happen, and how...
If you were to describe the COO role in 4-5 words, what would that definition be? There are certain descriptions that should NOT be included. Still, myths and misconceptions often circulate about what the COO role is (and what it isn’t). Here are some of the...
Here’s a question for all the CEOs out there: Does your COO have CFO skills? Do they need to? The short answer is absolutely YES. Many small and midsize (SMB) companies choose one or the other and then combine the roles. In some cases, the CEO is...
CEOs: Who on your team is your “ride or die”? Is it your COO? There’s a lot to consider here. If you don’t feel like you have one, that could be a problem. Not necessarily in ALL cases, but I want to propose something… A one-sided relationship...
Companies on an upward trajectory undoubtedly face growing pains. It would be unsettling if they didn’t! You know, that “too good to be true” scenario never ends well. Within a growing company, there definitely comes a time when CEOs and their teams need to think about...