Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief with Cameron Herold
Episode 485: Empowering Leaders: The Role of Intuitive Hiring and Collaborative Growth Release Date: June 19, 2025
Introduction to the Episode
In this engaging episode of the Second in Command podcast, host Cameron Herold delves into innovative approaches to leadership, team building, and decision-making. Focused on empowering COOs and other second-in-command leaders, Cameron sets the stage for a deep dive into intuitive hiring practices and the importance of collaborative growth within organizations.
Unconventional Leadership and Hiring Strategies
Cameron opens the discussion by highlighting the need to rethink traditional hiring methods. He emphasizes the effectiveness of behavioral assessments over standardized profiling tools.
Cameron Herold [01:55]: "We'll discuss why behavioral assessments can be more effective than standardized profiling tools and how sharpening your ability to assess people beyond surface level metrics can transform your hiring process."
Key Points:
- Intuitive Hiring: Moving beyond resumes and standardized tests to understand the intrinsic qualities of candidates.
- Behavioral Assessments: Utilizing tools that evaluate how candidates have behaved in various situations, providing deeper insights into their potential fit within the team.
Navigating Organizational Transitions
Cameron addresses the complexities involved in organizational transitions, offering practical advice to maintain stability and focus during uncertain times. He underscores the importance of clear communication, structured short-term planning, and fostering a culture of transparency.
Cameron Herold [03:05]: "From clear communication to structured short term planning and fostering a culture of transparency, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately to strengthen your team and organization."
Key Strategies:
- Clear Communication: Ensuring that all team members are informed and aligned with the organization's goals and changes.
- Structured Planning: Developing short-term plans that provide clear milestones and objectives.
- Transparent Culture: Building an environment where openness and honesty are prioritized, aiding in smoother transitions.
Building and Leveraging the COO Alliance Community
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the COO Alliance, a community designed exclusively for second-in-command leaders. Cameron explains the genesis and purpose of the alliance, emphasizing its role in providing support, fostering connections, and facilitating professional growth.
Cameron Herold [04:30]: "It's truly a place just for you to collaborate with each other, to share frustrations with each other, to share worries and insecurities and fears, vulnerabilities, and then to be there to support each other too."
Highlights:
- Exclusive Community: Tailored specifically for COOs and integrators who support CEOs, ensuring relevant and focused discussions.
- Support System: Members share their challenges and support one another, creating a safe space for vulnerability and growth.
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Cameron shares a powerful anecdote illustrating how the community helps members shed feelings of inadequacy.
Cameron Herold [07:15]: "At an event that I was at around six years ago, one of our members came up to me at lunch and he said, cameron, I feel like everybody in the room is much smarter than I am... So in that room, everyone put their hand up because they felt the same, and suddenly, the imposter syndrome started to fade away."
Maximizing Membership: Events and Resources
Cameron and his co-host Savannah Brewer discuss the various benefits available to members of the COO Alliance, including monthly calls, in-person events, and an extensive member portal.
Monthly Calls:
- Consistent Learning: Regularly scheduled calls provide ongoing education and opportunities to engage with fellow members.
- Structured Time Blocks: Members are encouraged to prioritize these calls by scheduling them as non-negotiable time blocks in their calendars.
Cameron Herold [10:49]: "Put those dates and times in your calendar as two hour non negotiable time blocks and try to work the business around those. This is classic working on the business."
In-Person Events:
- Networking Opportunities: Events are capped at 60 participants, ensuring an intimate and productive environment.
- Global Reach: With members from 17 countries, these events offer a diverse and expansive network.
Member Portal and Circle Platform:
- Comprehensive Resources: Access to speaker videos, slide decks, and categorized resources makes it easy for members to find and utilize information.
- Enhanced Networking: The new Circle platform is designed to streamline interactions, allowing for seamless communication and collaboration beyond time zones.
Simona [19:35]: "You would have the resources, you would have a video library, you would have the downloadable playbooks and files and everything is going to be in one place including the possibility to network."
Leadership Training and Tools
The episode highlights the Invest in Your Leaders course, offering a 15% discount to members for enhancing their leadership skills. Cameron underscores the value of investing in leadership development as a strategic move for organizational success.
Cameron Herold [15:30]: "These are the 12 core leadership skills... This is some of the stuff that CEOs pay me $78,000 a year to coach them on."
Leadership Tools Discussed:
- Invest in Your Leaders Course: Focuses on situational leadership, delegation, interviewing, conflict resolution, and effective meetings.
- Colby A Profile: A tool for understanding and improving communication and collaboration between COOs and CEOs by aligning their profiles.
Networking and Accountability Groups
Cameron introduces the concept of accountability groups, small cohorts of members who meet monthly to discuss goals, share progress, and hold each other accountable. These groups foster deeper connections and provide a support system beyond the larger community.
Cameron Herold [18:24]: "We have a bunch of members who have formed accountability groups... based on active and engaged participation."
Q&A Session Highlights
The latter part of the episode features an interactive Q&A session where members ask questions related to operations, execution, culture, and more. Key insights from this segment include:
Hiring Practices:
- Behavioral vs. Personality Profiles: Cameron shares his preference for behavioral assessments over personality profiles in the hiring process, citing a personal experience where reliance on profiles led to hiring mismatches.
Cameron Herold [35:16]: "I believe more in behavioral profiling and also past performance out of the interview than off a personality profile."
Organizational Culture:
- Communication Plans: Emphasizes the importance of regular town hall meetings to keep employees informed and alleviate anxieties during changes.
Leadership Challenges:
- Focus and Clarity: Advises leaders to define clear short-term goals and metrics to maintain focus and reduce distractions.
Insights on Leadership and Hiring Practices
Cameron shares valuable lessons from his tenure at 1-800-GOT JUNK, where he implemented various leadership and hiring strategies. He stresses the importance of ongoing leadership development and the strategic use of fractional roles to enhance organizational effectiveness.
Cameron Herold [36:22]: "At 1-800-GOT JUNK, I trained and certified everyone in the 12 core leadership skills... These are the skills that CEOs pay me $78,000 a year to coach them on."
Final Insights and Actionable Steps
As the episode concludes, Cameron provides actionable steps for members to maximize their involvement and benefits:
- Engage Actively: Ask and answer questions in the Slack community to build confidence and contribute to collective knowledge.
- Utilize Resources: Dive into favorite videos and leadership training materials available in the member portal.
- Leverage Tools: Complete the Colby A Profile and encourage CEOs to do the same to improve collaboration.
- Attend Events: Participate in monthly calls and in-person events to network and learn from peers.
- Join Accountability Groups: Form or join small groups to set goals and hold each other accountable.
Cameron Herold [42:41]: "Go and open Slack right now and ask a question. Something that you're thinking about, you're worried about, you're frustrated with a tool, an introduction you might make."
Conclusion
Episode 485 of the Second in Command podcast offers a treasure trove of insights and practical strategies for COOs and second-in-command leaders. By embracing intuitive hiring practices, fostering a collaborative community, and investing in continuous leadership development, listeners are empowered to drive their organizations towards sustained growth and excellence.
For more insights and resources, visit COOAlliance.com.
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