A growing company eventually hits a leadership gap. Choosing between a fractional vs full-time executive is an important decision. For some gaps, a full-time hire is the right call. For others, a fractional executive brings senior experience when the company needs it.
Chief Outsiders, a COO Alliance Strategic Partner, works in that second category. The firm has worked with more than 2,500 clients across more than 70 industries, and its bench includes more than 100 fractional CMOs and CSOs.
When Full-Time Fits
A full-time executive fits when a function needs daily leadership and a team to build and manage. It also fits when coordination across departments never stops.
These roles reward continuity. The same person owns the plan and the result year after year. A role also moves to full-time when the work outgrows a part-time schedule, for example, when a fractional leader’s scope fills most weeks.
When Fractional Fits
A fractional executive fits when the need is specific or temporary:
- A specialized skill the company does not have in-house
- A strategy to test before a permanent hire
- A transition or a new stage of growth
- Strategic direction without a full-time workload
The Chief Outsiders website describes the range. Some clients work with the firm for just a workshop, while others keep a team on board for months or years.
In a case study the firm published, Education Advanced, an education software company, built a marketing function with a Chief Outsiders CMO and drove 2X revenue growth and 10X value creation.
Questions To Ask Before Hiring
Start with the problems the hire must solve. Then estimate how many hours of leadership the work needs each week, and name the outcome the person will own.
Also settle who the leader reports to and which decisions they own. A fractional leader needs a clear mandate and measures of success, just like a full-time hire.
If the work needs daily decisions, hire full-time. If it needs senior judgment on a schedule, go fractional.
Bottom Line
The choice depends on the company’s stage and how much ownership the work demands. For a COO, the practical test is who owns this function next quarter and how many days a week it needs.
Learn more about the Chief Outsiders fractional model at chiefoutsiders.com.
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