How should I prepare for a new COO's arrival?

If you are in a leadership position within a company, it’s always a good idea to get to know others in leadership positions, whether you are in their direct chain of command or not. Not only is this person a potentially valuable resource in the future, it’s also good to get an indication of what direction the company is developing. The types of people a company brings in, especially at senior levels, is generally indicative of strategic developments.

To give an example, we recently brought in a new COO. Even though we’re not each other’s direct report, it turns out that she has the ear of the CEO, who is my direct report. By getting friendly with her on a casual basis, it has strengthened my relationship with my boss: she confirms to him, in her own way of communicating, the same message I’m telling him.

How should you prepare? A few tips:
– Work on your elevator pitch: be able to tell who you are and where your added value for the company is within 90 seconds.
– Be up on latest developments within the company: preferably business-related. It’s never a good idea to gossip to newbs, especially on C-level.
– Be up on latest developments in your market/industry: even though a COO has more to do with internal operations than with market developments, by being aware of what’s going on outside the company strengthens your position.
– If there are what you feel are warning signs in your company/market, think twice before communicating these to the new COO. He/she will be inundated with new information in the beginning and unless these warning signs are critical (i.e. collapsing industry, mutiny of staff), best to let others fill him in on it.
– Always be positive, and always relate to the business what you’re telling.

My $ 0.02

@PapaLeo has put together some very good points. I can add a couple of more:

1. Work on being able to summarize what your area of the company does (and how it contributes to the bottom line).

2. Practice answers to the worst questions the new COO might ask (especially in a public setting like a meeting).

3. See if you can get a CV or resume on the new hire ahead of time. See if there are commonalities in your backgrounds (schools, companies, places you’ve lived). Use that information to build a bond.

4. If, based on the CV, you think you might know someone who knows this person, call that person and get some intel. Forewarned is forearmed.

Great additions, @Marina Very strategic.