I talk to a lot of new and aspiring solo consultants who are curious about the ‘fractional executive’ space.

The allure is compelling, particularly when compared to full-time roles.

Fractional engagements offer:

• Part-time senior-level work
• Defined objectives/scope (aka, no ‘filler’ work)
• Ability to stack multiple client engagements
• A vehicle to dabble into nascent or new-to-you industries

These reasons (and more) have brought thousands of corporate experts into the supply side of the independent consulting market.

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But the natural question is, who is actually hiring fractionals?

And why?

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Friend of the list Henning Schwinum has been a true leading voice in the fractional executive space even “before it was cool”.

He published an interesting quick read today on “When is a fractional executive the right fit?”

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If you’ve been pursuing fractional work, or are thinking about it, it’s helpful to know how your future clients are being educated about the value prop.

Some highlights:

• A true fractional executive is generally not a fit for a Fortune 1,000 company, maybe even Fortune 5,000
• Fractional leaders are growth catalysts, not maintenance managers. […] If your organization aims to preserve current operations, a part-time floor manager might suffice—but truly impactful fractional executives demand a mandate to lead change.
• It’s “try before you buy”—fractionals often become permanent roles when alignment and impact are proven.
• Operating on a retainer, they work across several clients—ensuring fresh ideas and preventing tunnel vision.

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Check out Henning’s full piece here - and I’d recommend subscribing to his weekly while you’re at it.

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And remember -- going ‘fractional’ is not a niche in itself.

Your niche is still defined by the problem(s) you uniquely solve and for whom.

But fractional is one increasingly common packaging you can elect to deploy your expertise.

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💡

-Wes

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P.S. Q3 is here (gasp!)

If you're struggling with market traction and want to get things moving in the back half of this year, book a free call to explore what might be keeping you stuck.

Even if it's not the right time for one of my sprints (links in footer), most consultations at the very least shine some light on a next step to stop the spin.

No hard-sells. It's not my style :)