COOs as the Keepers of Company Culture
While the CEO often sets the tone for a company’s vision and values, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a crucial role as the keeper of company culture. The COO ensures that the day-to-day operations, policies, and behaviors align with the organization’s cultural ideals. Balancing operational efficiency with a thriving workplace environment is both an art and a science, requiring intentionality, leadership, and consistency.
This article explores how COOs shape, uphold, and evolve company culture to drive long-term success.
1. Translating Values into Action
Why It Matters
Cultural values are only meaningful if they are reflected in daily operations. As the bridge between strategy and execution, COOs ensure that company values are integrated into workflows, policies, and decision-making.
How COOs Achieve This
- Operationalize Core Values: Embed values into operational processes such as hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluations.
- Create Aligned Policies: Ensure workplace policies reflect cultural priorities, such as flexibility for a work-life balance or professional development opportunities.
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate commitment to the culture through your actions and decisions.
Example
If a company prioritizes innovation, the COO might establish a program for employees to dedicate 10% of their time to creative projects.
2. Building Cross-Functional Collaboration
Why It Matters
COOs work across departments, connecting teams and ensuring alignment. A culture of collaboration fosters trust, transparency, and efficiency.
How COOs Achieve This
- Encourage Open Communication: Facilitate cross-departmental meetings and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Remove Silos: Promote systems and tools that allow seamless information flow between teams.
- Recognize Collaborative Efforts: Reward teams that exemplify cross-functional collaboration.
Example
A COO implements a shared project management tool, like herdr.io, to improve visibility across departments and encourage joint problem-solving.
3. Driving Accountability Through Culture
Why It Matters
Accountability is a cornerstone of a strong company culture. COOs ensure that everyone, from executives to frontline employees, takes ownership of their roles and outcomes.
How COOs Achieve This
- Set Clear Expectations: Define responsibilities and performance metrics at every level.
- Foster Psychological Safety: Encourage employees to take accountability without fear of punitive responses to honest mistakes.
- Hold Leaders Accountable: Ensure that managers model the behaviors expected of their teams.
Example
The COO introduces a “Lessons Learned” framework, where teams review challenges from failed initiatives to improve future efforts without assigning blame.
4. Reinforcing Culture Through Onboarding and Training
Why It Matters
The COO shapes the first impressions new hires have of the company, making onboarding a vital tool for embedding cultural values. Continuous training reinforces these values over time.
How COOs Achieve This
- Develop Culture-Focused Onboarding: Introduce new hires to the company’s mission, vision, and values from day one.
- Provide Leadership Training: Equip managers with the skills to cultivate and maintain the desired culture within their teams.
- Revisit Core Values Regularly: Offer workshops or events that refresh employees’ understanding of the company’s cultural priorities.
Example
A COO oversees a mentorship program connecting new hires with culture ambassadors who exemplify the company’s values.
5. Acting as a Change Agent
Why It Matters
Company culture is dynamic. The COO ensures it evolves alongside organizational growth, market changes, and employee needs while preserving its core identity.
How COOs Achieve This
- Listen to Employees: Use surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations to understand what aspects of the culture are thriving and what needs improvement.
- Adapt Policies Proactively: Align changes in operations with shifts in cultural priorities, such as adopting remote work policies or emphasizing diversity and inclusion.
- Celebrate Milestones: Mark cultural progress through events, awards, and other recognition methods.
Example
When transitioning to a hybrid work model, a COO rolls out virtual team-building activities to sustain a sense of community.
6. Measuring and Sustaining Culture
Why It Matters
Culture cannot thrive if it isn’t monitored and nurtured. COOs ensure that cultural health is measured and continuously supported.
How COOs Achieve This
- Use Culture Metrics: Track employee engagement, retention rates, and internal mobility as indicators of cultural success.
- Solicit Feedback Regularly: Conduct anonymous surveys to gather honest employee opinions about the culture.
- Lead Continuous Improvements: Act on feedback and refine policies or initiatives as necessary.
Example
A COO uses quarterly engagement surveys to assess how well employees feel the company lives up to its cultural values, using the results to guide HR initiatives.
7. Balancing Productivity and People
Why It Matters
A healthy culture balances operational efficiency with employee well-being. COOs must ensure that processes are effective without burning out the workforce.
How COOs Achieve This
- Monitor Workloads: Use project management tools to distribute tasks equitably and prevent overwork.
- Encourage Downtime: Promote policies like flexible work hours or mandatory time off to prevent burnout.
- Align Incentives with Culture: Reward behaviors that reflect cultural priorities, not just financial outcomes.
Example
The COO implements a policy allowing employees to work remotely on Fridays, reflecting a commitment to work-life balance while maintaining productivity.
Conclusion
As the operational backbone of an organization, the COO plays a pivotal role in shaping, sustaining, and evolving company culture. By translating values into action, fostering collaboration, and balancing productivity with people-centric initiatives, COOs ensure that culture remains a competitive advantage.
Actionable Next Step: Audit your company’s current culture initiatives to identify opportunities where operations can better align with your values. As a COO, you hold the key to a thriving, values-driven workplace.
