What does it mean to be second-in-command in an organisation? Paul Stokes examines a typology of seven roles that a second-in-command (N2) can take and how coaching can help this sub-set of executives succeed in each of them

At a recent Coaching & Mentoring Research Unit (CMRU) research day, I raised the research topic of the particular developmental and organisational challenges faced by people who are deemed to be second-in-command in organisations. This was welcomed with interest by participants and seen to be an important topic to explore and address, for organisations...