Your Next Great Hire Might Be Fractional
It All Begins Here
Fractional staffing seems to be all the rage these days, but what exactly is it? “Fractional staffing” refers to an arrangement where individuals work part-time for multiple organizations, offering specialized skills or management services. Given the current uncertainty in the world, fractional staffing can provide opportunities for businesses and nonprofits to grow without incurring extensive risk.
One of the biggest benefits of fractional staffing is the cost savings it offers to the company. It enables organizations to access skilled professionals without incurring the full-time salary or benefits costs. This use of resources is ideal for short-term projects, seasonal surges, or temporary capacity boosts—essentially, bringing in extra hands to kick off a project or help during heavy workloads.
It’s also a great solution when you can’t find that “unicorn” employee who has expertise in multiple areas. Rather than waiting to find a perfect hire, companies can find a few focused experts to fill specific needs. This creates a starting point for those looking to scale up in the future and have sufficient growth to justify a full-time role later. Nonprofit organizations have been using fractional staffing as “an efficient, affordable way to confront challenges threatening their existence or limiting growth.” It’s also a way for smaller or developing companies to grow and compete more effectively, and for emerging organizations to stay competitive with larger, more established players.
Organizations that require strategic support, like a CSO, CFO, or COO, but can’t afford a full-time executive, can benefit significantly from fractional leadership. These professionals bring deep expertise in areas such as fundraising, sustainability, finance, and operations, giving smaller organizations a competitive edge that others may not achieve without the same level of creativity.
Fractional roles can also be a trial run for both the employer and the employee. It’s a chance to see whether the partnership is a good cultural and operational fit. If the relationship works well and the workload expands, it can naturally evolve into a full-time position.
So, is this as beneficial to employers as it is to companies? Fractional work lets professionals operate more independently, with an entrepreneurial mindset, and without the drama of micromanagement. Because their time is limited, it also forces organizations to be more decisive, communicative, and efficient, reducing the likelihood of overwork. “The fractional model enables me to scale my personal impact by working with multiple companies at the same time,” says Danielle Azoulay, founder of The CSO Shop. With clearly defined hours, employees gain more control over their time, preventing burnout and allowing them to choose how many clients or hours they want to take on.
We must adapt to the ever-changing trends in the business world. Employees no longer stay. Gone are the days when employees stayed with a single company for decades. Loyalty has waned on both sides, as employees have become more mobile and companies have become more transactional. The old model is not always practical, and companies must be open to determining the best path forward for themselves, which may involve fractional employment.
Resources:
https://trellis.net/article/5-reasons-to-hire-a-fractional-cso-and-drive-success/
https://lbbonline.com/news/the-fractional-frontier-gabrielle-tenaglia-on-letting-go-of-relics
Reporting for Duty: Sustainability That Means Business
Reporting for Duty: Sustainability That Means Business
AIA reporting season has opened, is your firm ready? The 2030 Commitment reporting opened January 1 and will close March 31. The A&D Materials Pledge will open in February and close in late April. If you don’t have a plan, you are already behind! How is your firm tackling these vital sustainability programs in the AEC community?
Why is it important to report to AIA? Participation in these programs demonstrates a firm's dedication to sustainability, accountability, and leadership within the architectural and design industries. We have the ability to aggregate data from all firms to let us know where the industry is and you can see where your firm falls amongst the others. We can also work together to address the areas need improvement.
1. Advance Sustainability Goals
How does reporting for The AIA 2030 Commitment and The A&D Materials Pledge advance sustainability goals? You can’t improve what you don’t measure, so reporting allows firms to track progress toward reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure that firms are adopting and promoting holistic sustainable material selection practices.
Both the 2030 Commitment and the A&D Materials Pledge are collaborations with the larger AEC community ensuring that this work fits into the larger context of sustainable building practices. These programs have aligned with the ECHO Project on how to report embodied carbon, and the A&D Materials Pledge is aligned with the Common Materials Framework. Participation in these programs sets you up for success with certification organizations like ILFI and USGBC as well as reporting for the SE2050 Commitment and the MEP2040 challenge.
2. Demonstrate Leadership and Accountability
Participating in the AIA 2030 Commitment and A&D Materials Pledge showcases leadership in particular for small and medium-sized architecture firms by aligning them with the industry's top sustainability initiatives. Most of the large and highly competitive firms are actively pushing the boundaries of these initiatives. Programs like these help firms demonstrate accountability, attract clients who value responsible practices. By embracing low carbon designs and responsible material choices, firms position themselves as forward-thinking leaders in the architectural community.
3. Data-Driven Decision Making
As said above, "You can't improve what you don't measure" meaning that unless firms document where they are now, they have no way to track any progress they make towards goals.
Reporting equips firms with insights into their performance, helping them identify strengths and areas for improvement.
The aggregated data allows firms to examine where their best practices fall within the industry allowing them to understand if they are above or behind the curve, and thus make decisions based on that and where they want to be.
5. Prepare for Future Regulations
Governments and codes are increasingly requiring more strict energy efficiency and reporting. Some states have started to include clean construction and embodied carbon regulations. Starting this work now will allow your firm to be open to projects in those regions or prepared for when such regulations become required in your own region.
Get started! Hopefully, your firm’s data will be included the 2025 By the Numbers reports this fall. If your firm is struggling with the reporting process, understanding what is expected or just need someone to take on the role as taskmaster please book some time with me to discuss how I can help you meet these goals. Check out the services offered.