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.
Every organization, from time to time, is faced with skill set gaps and limited resources. Fractional leadership is a cost-effective option to meet critical objectives that would overextend management teams…or just not get done.
Fractional leadership is a simple concept. A fraction, of course, is a portion of a larger something. Leadership requires vision, perspective, organization, inspiration, accountability, etc. A fractional leader becomes an essential part of your team, a hands-on implementer on an interim or extended part-time basis.
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, a fractional leader 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. A fractional leader can quickly and cost effectively fill a transitory mis-match between skills and resources.
Startups and emerging growth companies are excellent candidates for fractional leadership. A fractional operations engineering expert can provide technical direction, supervision, and business acumen until cash flow catches up for a full-time hire.
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. Facing a work bubble or skills gap? Consider fractional leadership instead of a full-time hire.
If a fractional leader is a potential solution to your business challenges, please click here to start a conversation.