When companies strategize, all leaders must be brought to the table. The COO is no exception. They translate vision into action, ensuring the company’s goals align with operational systems, while bringing their unique insight.

A COO’s Role in Strategizing

COOs play a vital role in company strategy and carry out initiatives in the following ways:

• Makes Vision a Reality: As a leader responsible for a company’s overall productivity, a COO works on the front line, turning plans into results.
• Operational Alignment: A COO determines firsthand how strategies impact operations, providing insightful feedback that can help companies improve their approach.
• Supports Efficiency and Innovation: The unique operational perspective boosts efficiency and innovation, ensuring goals are reached without wasting time and resources.
• Bridging Teams and Leadership: COOs work closely with other departments and leaders, including R&D, marketing, customer service, maintenance, and quality control, accounting for all visions and implementing strategies that lead to beneficial outcomes.
• Resource Allocation: Trained to make the most with what’s available, COOs can lead informed decisions about resource allocation, ensuring talent and funds are used effectively.

How COOs Achieve Strategic Goals

Companies may determine business strategies, but how can COOs bring them to life? Their roles in the company allow them to achieve goals through the following techniques:

Implementing Collaboration

As a leader who works closely with other departments, a COO should be at the forefront of collaborative efforts. They should consult other leaders and stakeholders at every turn. In addition to ensuring satisfaction, this approach promotes transparency and keeps everyone informed on the latest updates.

Various channels promote collaboration, including shared workspace, video conferencing, and in-person meetings. Determine which is best suited for your organization.

Leveraging Data-Driven Decision Making

Even after the strategy is implemented, COOs must make critical decisions as they determine the best way to navigate the new approach. Data can help.

Leaders should consider historical data and market trends to guide their decisions. This approach allows them to gather insights that increase the chance of a positive outcome.

Fostering Innovation

COOs must utilize innovative methods when implementing new strategies. This typically involves encouraging unconventional thinking.

Leaders should welcome feedback and show workers and colleagues they value their opinions. This will make stakeholders feel comfortable suggesting techniques to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and potentially transform the company into an industry leader.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Partnerships can be formed at every level to contribute to company success. Here are some examples:

• Third-Party Vendors: Operations rely on supplies and technology to support the company. A COO must work closely with vendors that provide these services and stay abreast of factors that affect productivity.
• Industry Experts: Consider networking with industry experts who can predict marketing trends and suggest technology that supports innovation and efficiency.
• Strategic Alignment: Companies may partner on larger projects, integrating services to improve their offerings. For example, COOs may collaborate with other organizations, adopting their technology into their services, to fulfill company goals and achieve better outcomes.

Maintaining a Customer Centric Focus

Although operations teams don’t interact directly with customers, they significantly impact customer satisfaction. Their processes affect the quality of products, delivery times, and, in some cases, innovation. They must work closely with marketing and customer service teams to understand how operations contribute to the customer experience and use techniques that support loyalty.

Prioritizing Sustainability

Sustainability contributes to company strategies, reducing costs, improving brand reputation, ensuring compliance, and attracting investors and talent. Operations play a massive role in sustainability as the proper techniques can minimize waste, reduce energy use, and save resources, ensuring compliance and helping companies reach strategic goals.

Developing Talent and Leadership

An organization can’t reach its potential without a strong team. COOs can do their part by partnering with HR to ensure they find the best talent for their organization. They should delegate carefully, choosing tasks that bring out an employee’s strengths, leading by example, and encouraging autonomy in the workplace.

Adapting a Culture of Continuous Improvement

New strategies typically require some adjustment. COOs and their teams should continue reviewing processes and gathering feedback to determine areas for improvement. New systems should be integrated when necessary to ensure processes are carried out to achieve optimal results.

Want to learn more about developing company strategies? Sign up for our newsletter today.