regardless of what you think of this (hustle porn or roadmap to get ahead at work), I think more employers should adapt the practice of setting clear, non-negotiable expectations as part of the hiring process.
Using the collaborate before you commit approach empowers both the candidate and the person hiring, because they both have the agency to decide whether the situation feels right to them. Was there chemistry? Was there magic? Was it more awkward than you might have liked?
Hiring a COO isn’t easy at the early-stage and is wrought with more danger than potential success. Make sure you take the time to understand if you are ready for this hire. When it is done right, the impact on you and the company is tremendous.