Some time back, LinkedIn suggested that I connect with someone who described herself as a Fractional CEO. This title caught my interest. A Google search led me to a series of articles on fractional leadership. To my great surprise, I discovered that I am ahead of a curve that I did not know even existed.
Fractional leadership is a simple concept. Fractional implies part of a whole. In this context, full-time for a limited duration or part-time over a longer time horizon. Leadership requires vision, perspective, organization, inspiration, accountability, etc.
I found aspects of fractional leadership in most if not all of my case studies. At one end of the time horizon, I provided daily (including weekend) boots-on-the ground project management for a manufacturing plant rearrangement that spanned seven months. In another case, I worked part time for two and half years to organize and deliver an event, the FF50th.
At established companies, fractional leadership is an effective solution during periods of transition: a new product or IT systems launch, a plant relocation or rearrangement, an ISO registration, an opening of a new sales territory, integrating an acquisition, the unexpected exit of a key executive, etc. Fractional leadership can quickly and cost effectively fill a transitory mis-match between skills and resources.
Startups and emerging growth companies are excellent candidates for a fractional leadership solution. A fractional operations engineering expert can provide technical direction, supervision, and business acumen until cash flow catches up.
I merely discovered, and did not invent, fractional leadership. Here is a link to one of the better articles that I found:
Kimberley A. Whitler: “The Outsourced Executive: A Growing Leadership Staffing Solution” (Forbes)
Fractional leadership is a nimble, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to a full-time hire and my preferred client relationship. If fractional leadership is a potential solution to your business challenges, please click here to start a conversation.