What Makes a Great Fractional or Interim Leader?

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about fractional work or an interim leadership role. Is it right for you? Here’s what our experts say it takes.?

1. Flexible

Being able to work from anywhere and roll with any on-the-fly changes are traits an interim or fractional leader needs to have.

2. Strong Leader

Being part-time doesn’t mean your work is easier. You have to lead a team and provide immediate results.? Take it from fractional CRO Scott Samios:

“The other VPs, if I ask them, ‘Was I fractional or full-time?’ they would say, ‘I know that you were fractional, but it never seemed that way,'" he said. "Probably the best thing that's come out of every interaction is that I’m able to be fully present for the leadership team.”

3. Communicative

Companies are looking for leaders who can step in and be vocal and honest about what steps and actions need to be taken.

4. Moves Quickly

Short-term assignments mean you have no time to waste to start having an impact. “As a full-time executive, you may have 90 days to do your onboarding plan and figure out what to do. As an interim, you’ve got maybe 2-3 weeks," said interim Chief People Officer and Guia Consulting founder Dan Sonsino. “You really have to take the role by the horns. You have to own it and you have to be accountable.”

5. Experienced

The best interim and fractional leaders are seasoned, highly experienced executives.

6. Brave!

“It's a little bit scary for some people, right?? For some, switching over to an interim or fractional job means stepping away from a corporate role,” said Beuerlein. Executives may see many hoops they need to jump through: benefits, setting up an LLC or an S Corp., billing, legal implications, etc. Then there’s the added bravery required to constantly step into new situations with new people. It’s also part of what makes it fun, though! “TrueBridge helps people who are maybe just a little bit shy about taking the leap,” Beuerlein said.