Respect Is Earned in Execution: Lessons from the COO Seat
Respect in the workplace setting, regardless of its size and industry, isn’t given – it is earned. The best way to earn respect is through execution, which is what every successful chief operating officer (COO) can confirm. The role of COO is demanding and challenging because it requires taking care of everyday operations, implementing strategic plans, managing internal functions, and a lot more. However, the COOs are usually the unsung heroes. They turn vision into motion and potential into performance. This article focuses on valuable lessons about earning respect through execution drawn from the COO function.
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Respect Is Earned in Execution: Lessons from the COO Seat
Consistency inspires people, not titles
Consistency inspires people, not titles
It’s not uncommon for people to think that stepping into a leadership role, such as COO, comes with instant authority. Authority isn’t leadership, though. Evidence shows that authoritarian leadership is negatively associated with leader effectiveness, which harms employee performance and affective organizational commitment. Employees don’t respond to the title, they respond to a person’s consistency. The team takes cues from how well you deliver on your word, how you hold yourself and other people accountable, and how you manage crises.
Execution is more than completing tasks and projects; it’s about building trust through dependability. Successful, respected COOs are persons that team members can rely on. When they make a promise, they follow it through. This way, you earn respect.
Clarity is important
Confusion is an archenemy of execution. Successful execution, and respect that comes as a result, requires clarity. For that reason, the COO needs to translate high-level strategy into actionable, measurable plans. In other words, they shouldn’t leave room for ambiguity. Instead, align cross-functional teams and create systems that team members can depend on easily. That way, team members and employees don’t feel like they have to “decipher” or guess what you mean or expect.
Businesses often struggle due to the lack of operational clarity, not the absence of ambition. The COO needs to distill the CEO’s vision into processes and actionable steps so that priorities make sense to teams at every level or department. All team members regardless of the position or rank should prioritize clarity.
Clarity is important for proper execution and thereby earns respect from your team.
Embed execution in company culture
Company culture is a set of shared norms, values, and behaviors that shape the work environment and how employees interact. The culture of a company, regardless of its size, is best understood through what people actually do i.e., execution.
Chief operating officers tend to reinforce the standards of execution. They keep track of whether teams deliver work on time or take ownership of outcomes. In other words, what’s tolerated in a specific workplace becomes culture. If you shift focus from execution, even slightly, it could signal that mediocrity and procrastination are acceptable. On the flip side, the COOs who consistently uphold high standards while offering support teach the company that excellence is a part of their identity. This is exactly why people show respect to skilled and efficient COOs and other leaders in their workplace.
Work on precision
Speed is considered crucial for success in high-growth environments, but that’s not necessarily correct. Efficient COOs understand that execution is a balancing act between accuracy and urgency. It is crucial to learn when to focus on speed and when to take your time and focus on accuracy. Doing so requires judgment and an analytic approach to the task at hand. Even a tiny misstep in budgeting, hiring, or supply chain decisions can jeopardize months of hard work. While pace is important, precision is crucial for execution and efficiency.
Handle problems with class
Challenges at work are sometimes impossible to avoid, despite best efforts to do so. During times of chaos and stress, your team is watching closely to your reaction and response. After all, the COO’s reaction defines operational tone when projects fall behind, valuable team members quit, or unexpected situations arise. This is the point where respect is earned or lost.
Take a few moments to think about your response to problems that arise. Do you panic or blame others? Or perhaps you remain composed, analyze the issue, and step up?
The COOs face failures and challenging situations quite often. Each issue is an opportunity to prove yourself, increase execution, and earn respect. The most important thing is not to hide when issues arise. Stepping up shows the team members that leadership isn’t about avoiding friction, it’s about moving through challenging times with class and style.
You should adopt the same approach when interpersonal conflicts occur at work. In these cases, it’s important to treat people with equality and respect. Consider and respect others’ views and always engage in open and honest conversation that leaves no room for judgmental attitudes.
Numbers aren’t everything
Execution is data-driven, but numbers aren’t everything. They don’t tell the whole story. Keep in mind that execution is measured in key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards, but it’s also felt in morale, innovation, and cross-functional friction.
Efficient and respectful COOs know exactly when to trust data and when to dig deeper and consider other factors that speak volumes about the execution of a certain task or project. After all, the human aspect of operations should never be ignored.
This approach gives a detailed insight into your efficiency, execution levels, and quality of work you do. As you take the human aspect into consideration, you get the full picture and adjust the next steps accordingly. This is worthy of every respect you earn.
Conclusion
Chief operating officers have a multitude of responsibilities under their belts. However, being in a leadership role doesn’t come with in-built respect. You need to earn respect from your colleagues, team members, and employees through proper execution. This post focused on different approaches to better execution, which can help you earn respect. Be consistent, and precise, and focus on clarity to remove any confusion from the equation. Your team members and colleagues will appreciate your efficiency, integrity, and dedication to work, which will be reflected through respect.
References
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9819526/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2015/10/17/in-business-clarity-comes-first/
