Fractionals United Blog

If You Had Three Wishes... Ever found yourself hoping to find a small business genie? You know what I mean... You rub the lamp, a fantastical deity pops out knowing just what to do to help you further you, your team, your goals? Just wish for it, and it happens; does that ring a bell?   Well, today your wish is granted!  At least in the form of a blog post. I can't pop out of a bottle but I can tell you about fractional leaders who are de facto wizards of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Like Intellectual Intelligence (IQ), EQ is about the emotional abilities and social skills that aren't quite measured in the analytical skills associated with IQ. Here's why small businesses are eyeing EQ-savvy fractional pros.  But, first things first... Why Does EQ Matter? Imagine having a leader who not only brings a wealth of experience, but can also flows with the undercurrents of you, your team, and your customers. Like a sea they've sailed 1,000 times. That's your EQ-rich fractio...

Having a Chief Customer Officer in your organization can help you gain a fully comprehensive overview of your customer base, facilitating quick and efficient implementation of changes. In this real-life example, we delve into a case where a Chief Customer Officer was brought onboard in a fractional capacity, successfully steering a SaaS startup away from stagnation and potential decline toward a much more promising trajectory. Why Fractional Chief Customer Officer? 1. Cost-Effective Expertise  In the case of our SaaS startup, operating on a bootstrapped model without external funding made cost considerations a priority. Opting for a Fractional Chief Customer Officer provided access to top-tier expertise without the financial commitment of a full-time executive, allowing the startup to benefit from specialized skills when needed. 2. Flexibility and Scalability Startups often face fluctuating needs, especially during critical periods such as product launches or market expansions. A F...

While many employees create job security through traditional career progression and making themselves indispensable in their role, some of the best fractional operators have the opposite approach: aiming to work themselves OUT of a job. Why would someone aim to achieve their way out of a job? Because if they've done the work correctly, they will have built such a strong infrastructure that it stands on its own. They've not made themselves obsolete, but instead made themselves available for new challenges and opportunities by enabling the work product to speak for itself. It’s important to note that the end game isn’t to become unemployable, in fact it’s quite the opposite. The goal is to create systems that either run themselves or can be easily handed off to in-house or, ideally, more junior or cost effective employees. Additionally, the best fractional operators address challenges from multiple angles so that there’s a plan B, C, D and Z for when the current systems are outgr...

In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate leadership, the role of fractional C-suite executives has emerged as a dynamic and influential force. These leaders, who lend their expertise to multiple organizations on a fractional basis, face unique challenges and opportunities. Among the myriad skills required for such roles, one stands out as particularly crucial: Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Unlike traditional, full-time executives, fractional leaders must quickly adapt to new environments, understand diverse team dynamics, and build trust rapidly—all tasks where a high EQ is not just beneficial but essential. In this blog, we delve into the transformative power of EQ in the fractional C-suite, exploring how it shapes leadership styles, impacts organizational culture, and drives success in these unique roles.   Understanding Emotional Intelligence in Leadership   When I first encountered this concept of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), it struck me as a vital, yet often overlooked...

A few years ago, the head of a portfolio of five waste management companies faced a significant challenge. Larry's $5M industrial composting plant was losing money, and he realized his operations manager could not orchestrate a turnaround. He knew he needed a senior level executive who could drive operational excellence and be a role model leader for his young team. However, the prospect of hiring such an executive raised financial concerns for Larry. Then Larry was introduced to a game-changing concept: fractional executives. These are senior level executives who offer expertise and leadership to a number of companies on a limited basis, bringing a wealth of experience and strategic acumen without the commitment of a full-time hire. This model offers not only cost-effectiveness but also remarkable efficiency. Initially skeptical, Larry sought an example to understand how a fractional executive could benefit his organization. “You, Larry, are a fractional CEO yourself,” we explain...

Throughout my marketing career, I have met many people who are experts at developing a solid marketing strategy. They are founders, engineers, architects, physicians, restauranteurs, and when I talk to them about their commercial strategy, they can wax lyrical for hours. Of course, I am being facetious—they are not marketing experts, they just think they are.  So many business leaders I have met throughout my career mistake plans or actions for strategy. They possess in-depth knowledge about their product, industry, and maybe their customers but all too often they dive headfirst into planning and execution before addressing key strategic questions.   • What are we trying to achieve?  • Why will my customer care?  • What will make them choose me over my competition? As a strategic marketer, I often get brought into companies to help them grow their business, launch their product or to turnaround a stagnant business. Often, they have hired a junior person to mana...

This last week was a very eventful one for both the community and fractionals at large. For the community, we reached 5000 members just in time for the second milestone event, which was Frak 2023, the first-ever fractional conference, organized by our partner and ally, VoyageurU . Frak 2023 was an opportunity for current fractional leaders, leaders who were fractionally curious, and even some local small business owners to come together in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Many others have already posted on LinkedIn their takeaways from the conference, and I know that fractionalconference.com will be repurposed to share all event sessions and materials for those who couldn't make it, so I'm going to focus on my key memories and personal takeaways. First the memories: I loved getting to meet John Arms himself and so many others I've had zoom calls with. There's nothing like coming face-to-face with someone and deepening that bond you started on zoom. There were too many to ment...