The Right-Hand Roadmap

#8: Finding Your Flow Zone

Navigating the Flow Zone for COOs and Second-in-Commands. The "Flow Zone" refers to a psychological state where a person is fully immersed and focused on an activity - there's a sense of energized focus, complete involvement and enjoyment. It is often described as being "in the zone". In this episode, we take a deep dive on one of the flow characteristics Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi identified: the balance of skill level and challenge level. Flow greatly effects how a Second-In-Command functions in their role - we cover techniques to find and stay in flow as a leader. You'll hear all about: 00:29: Defining the flow zone and its relevance to COOs and leaders, emphasizing the importance of finding individualized approaches.  01:04: The eight characteristics of flow as defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. 02:02: The balance of skill level and challenge level, and how they affect flow. 04:20: A conversation to have with your founder to find more challenge in your role. 05:11: The non-linear path executives will experience in and out of flow. 05:42: Techniques to avoid distractions pulling you out of flow. Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen! Or Watch on Youtube If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode. Links mentioned in the episode: "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

#7: Parallels Between Athletes and Corporate Leaders

The Winning Mindset: Athlete's Lessons for Corporate Leaders. In this episode of "The Right-Hand Roadmap," dive into the parallels between an athlete's mindset and corporate leadership. Host Megan Long, a former competitive bodybuilder turned entrepreneur, shares invaluable lessons from her journey as a pro athlete that seamlessly apply to the professional world. Discover practical insights on coachability, doing your best, longevity, preparation for the unexpected, visualization, discipline, embracing losses, time management, recovery, and the constant pursuit of improvement. You'll hear all about: 02:43: Recommend reads that draw connections between athletics and business, shedding light on common traits of winners.  03:37: Top lessons learned from being an athlete, starting with the importance of being coachable and leveraging mentorship. 04:56: The inevitability of unexpected challenges, and how control of the controllables applies to both athletics and business. 05:39: the effectiveness of visualization, with personal anecdotes from Megan's competitive bodybuilding journey. 06:51: The significance of discipline, setting a schedule, and the value of sticking to routines, especially in the absence of constant motivation. 07:49: Viewing losses as valuable feedback and how constructive criticism in business is akin to improving through athletic challenges. 08:15: Stressing the essence of time management and introducing Randy Zuckerberg's "pick three" rule for prioritization. 08:36: Recognizing the importance of recovery, drawing parallels between avoiding burnout in athletics and maintaining operational efficiency in business. 09:31: Embracing the idea that there's no finish line in personal and professional development, always room for improvement. Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts Click Here to Listen! Or Watch on Youtube If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode. Links mentioned in the episode: "Elite Minds: How Winners Think Differently to Create a Competitive Edge and Maximize Success" by Dr. Stan Beecham HBR's 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness "The Founder & The Force Multiplier: How Entrepreneurs and Executive Assistants Achieve More Together" by Adam Hergenrother & Hallie Warner Episode Five: Randy Zuckerberg's "Pick Three" Rule

#6: Transitioning from Corporate to an Entrepreneurial Company

Navigating the Leap from Large Corporation to Small Business. In this episode, explore the transitional shift as a leader from big corporate to small businesses. Many small entrepreneurial businesses hire externally for executive roles, especially new positions that they add. This often means experienced candidates are coming from larger organizations, which means facing a sizable adjustment in culture and leadership style. Dive into the pros and cons, transition tips, and key considerations as a leader making this impactful move. Learn about compensation, career growth, flexibility, and the unique challenges and advantages of being a Second-In-Command in a smaller setting reporting directly to a founder. You'll hear all about: 00:29: An overview of the Pros and Cons of transitioning to a small business environment.  01:12: Explaining the differences in pay & benefits, and the unique compensation packages that you might find in small businesses. 02:21: Career growth and professional development opportunities in entrepreneurial settings. 03:43: Finding true flexibility in your leadership role. 04:42: Shedding corporate mindsets to adapt to entrepreneurial companies, and how old habits might hurt you. 06:22: Building for tomorrow, not for scale. 07:10: Adapting to the pace and speed of working for a founder in a small business environment. 08:16: The difference in budgeting cycles and decision-making. 08:34: The unique impact and meaningful leadership role in smaller businesses.  Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts CLICK HERE TO LISTEN! OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode.

#5: Q&A: Absent CEOs, Managing Older Generations, Holding Multiple Roles, and Maintaining Self-Care

First Listener-Submitted Q&A: Absent CEOs, Managing Older Generations, Holding Multiple Roles, and Maintaining Self-Care. Dive into the first quarterly Q&A of "The Right-Hand Roadmap" where COOs and Seconds-In-Command tackle listeners' pressing questions. In this episode, listeners can expect a dynamic Q&A session addressing key challenges faced by Seconds-In-Command. From dealing with remote CEOs affecting company culture, managing an older team, embracing a proactive approach to self-care, and balancing diverse responsibilities, each question offers valuable insights and actionable advice. You'll hear all about: 01:37: Guidance on fostering engagement in a fully remote company with an absent CEO, and suggestions on initiating a "Same-Page Meeting" to redefine roles.  04:34: Overcoming self-limiting beliefs about managing an older team. Emphasizing that age does not equate to experience and adopting a mindset shift to boost confidence. 06:24: Strategically managing responsibilities during temporary role transitions, and addressing concerns about maintaining operational efficiency while focusing on generating new business. 09:19: Insight into balancing personal and professional routines. Introducing the "Pick Three" rule by Randi Zuckerberg and practical tips for prioritizing time effectively. 11:28: A walk-through of the Ideal Week exercise for effective time management. Tips on creating themes for each day, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining flexibility without compromising discipline. RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Tango automatic process documentation “Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters "Time Traps: Proven Strategies for Swamped Salespeople" by Todd Duncan "Pick Three: You Can Have It All (Just Not Every Day)" by Randi Zuckerberg

#4: Saying ”No” To Your CEO’s Ideas

The Delicate Balance of Saying "No" To Your CEO's Ideas While Fostering Collaboration. Explore the challenges of handling a CEO's myriad ideas and learn essential strategies to transform them into actionable plans. This episode empowers operations executives to provide valuable input, prioritize initiatives, and collaborate effectively with visionary leaders without sacrificing their unique strengths.. You'll hear all about: 00:29: The challenge of managing unfiltered ideas from visionary CEOs and the importance of adopting the right mindset.  02:56: The concept of organizational whiplash caused by too many ideas without momentum and the potential negative impact on teams and projects. 04:01: Empowering operations executives to say no to certain ideas and introducing the Idea Manager role for COOs. 04:45: Tool 1: The 0 to 10 Principle, a collaborative approach to developing and fleshing out CEO ideas, ensuring operational plans align with the vision. 05:26: Tool 2: The Priority Prism, a method to assign numeric values to urgency, importance, impact, and effort. 06:32: Practical example and explanation of creating a Priority Prism.   Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode. Links mentioned in the episode: Download the free Priority Prism Tool "The Founder & The Force Multiplier: How Entrepreneurs and Executive Assistants Achieve More Together" by Adam Hergenrother & Hallie Warner

#3: The Three Problems with COO Peer Groups

How To Bring Positive Change to COO Peer Groups & Organizations. There are very few peer groups and organizations specializing in the Second-In-Command. Through personal experiences, there are three common problems that been them from being as valuable and successful as they should be. In this episode we explore how to unlock the potential of these COO peer groups while addressing their common challenges, and maximizing their impact on personal and professional growth. If you are a member of one of these professional organizations, learn about three key issues affecting these groups and discover how to affect change from within and achieve a meaningful return on your investment of time and effort. We also explain how our Mastermind, Exchange, acknowledges these common issues and overcomes each of the three. You'll hear all about: 00:53: How revenue thresholds limit the relevance of member-companies, and how they typically don't cater to small businesses.  01:48: The importance of a formal framework for productive time together in the peer group. 03:40: How ROI of a COO's time - their most valuable asset - is the most important piece to ensure attendance.  05:54: The power of peer groups for Second-In-Command professionals and their unique benefits. 06:48: About Second First: Exchange, the Mastermind for Seconds-In-Command of founder-led companies. Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode. Links mentioned in the episode: Second First: Exchange - Apply for membership to the 2024 Mastermind for Seconds-In-Command of founder-led companies.

#2: Entrepreneurs Shouldn’t Delegate to Their Second-In-Command

Explore the myths of delegation in visionary entrepreneurship and uncover the true role of a second in command in reducing organizational noise and enhancing collaboration.
 
In this episode we explore the concept of delegation, separating it into two definitions, and discuss what a great Second-In-Command should do to reduce organizational noise and enhance collaboration between the CEO and COO.
 
Discover the difference between beneficial delegation, focusing on tasks outside your expertise, and the potential pitfalls of task-based delegation. We delve into the crucial distinction between upward and downward communication, emphasizing the proactive role of the second in command in taking ownership of outcomes.
 
Learn practical strategies for effective upward communication, including scheduling one-on-one sessions to uncover your CEO's concerns, anticipating their needs, and identifying problems, not just tasks. We also share tips on concise communication to avoid overwhelming your CEO with excessive information.
 
 
You'll hear all about:
 
00:51: Challenging the belief that entrepreneurs should "delegate".
01:51: The two definitions of delegation, and which an entrepreneur should never do.
02:27: Exploring Larry Linne's concepts of upward and downward communication.
03:25: Proactive strategies for upward communication and understanding your CEO's concerns and mindset.
04:39: How to effectively share updates with your CEO, and how to balance sharing details to avoid frustration and misinterpretation.
06:01: Tips for successful upward communication, including structuring recurring one-on-one meetings.
06:41: Anticipating your founder's needs and identifying problems, not just tasks.
 
Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts
If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode.
Links mentioned in the episode:
"Make the Noise Go Away: The Power of an Effective Second-In-Command" by Larry G. Linne
"Rocket Fuel" by Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters
Second First Free Guide: Four Rules for Effective Communication with Entrepreneurs
Second First Membership
Second First One-on-One Coaching
Second First on Instagram
Second First on LinkedIn
Megan Long on LinkedIn
 

#1: Which of the Seven Types of COO Are You?

Learn the seven types of COO, and receive reflection questions for each type to optimize your role.
In this inaugural episode of "The Right-Hand Roadmap," dive into the influential Harvard Business Review article, "Second in Command: The Misunderstood Role of the Chief Operating Officer." Uncover the intricacies of the COO role and identify seven archetypes that shape the #2 leader in companies. From "Executor" to "Heir Apparent", host Megan Long guides COOs through self-reflection questions, providing actionable insights to optimize their role. Gain clarity on aligning strategy with operations, navigating co-leadership, and addressing potential blind spots in succession planning.
You'll hear all about:
00:49: Exploration of the COO's role in relation to the CEO as an individual and the origin of the seven COO archetypes.
01:55: Practical self-reflection questions for COOs based on their identified archetype.
02:57: Importance of clarity breaks and deep work days for effective leadership.
03:03: How the Executor runs a company to allow the CEO to focus on big-picture strategy.
04:41: Unpacking the Change Agent archetype and its strategic initiatives.
06:16: Insights into the Mentor archetype and its evolving role.
07:19: Understanding the Other Half archetype and its role in complementing the CEO.
08:51: Exploring the dynamics of the Partner archetype in co-leadership scenarios.
10:23: Insightful reflections for the Heir Apparent archetype and the importance of succession planning.
11:32: Discussion on the MVP archetype and key considerations for staying in the role.
Rate, review & follow on Apple Podcasts
If you haven't already done so, follow the podcast to make sure you never miss a value-packed episode.
Links mentioned in the episode:
HBR: Second in Command: The Misunderstood Role of the Chief Operating Officer
"Make the Noise Go Away: The Power of an Effective Second-In-Command" by Larry G. Linne 
"Rocket Fuel" by Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters
Second First Membership
Second First One-on-One Coaching
Second First on Instagram
Second First on LinkedIn
Megan Long on LinkedIn