MY FIRST 30 DAYS AS A FRACTIONAL LEADER: KEY INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS
By Jill Di Donato, Editorial Director, Brand Storyteller, Content Flywheel, EX-Huffington Post, & Modern Luxury
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Considering going Fractional?
There are many reasons fractional consulting sounds appealing—at the same time, the lure of full-time work has a tight grip on our culture. As someone who has spent time both as a fractional consultant and climbing the corporate ladder, it’s fair to say it can feel like you’re navigating two very different worlds, and the impact each can have on your mental wellness is astounding.
Let’s start with the insight that corporate culture looks different for different types of people—I’ve witnessed people ascend the rungs promotion by promotion with agility, sometimes because of merit, sometimes by luck, and sometimes undeservedly. Many times throughout my career, often when moving from one org to another, I either made a parallel move, or sometimes, took a step downwards, in terms of title and pay.
I did this for many reasons: the prestige of the org; the need for steady employment; to upskill.
Even though I know I’m not alone in this experience, it shook my self-esteem.
I was working with an archaic notion fueled by corporate culture that equates your value with your rung on the corporate ladder—the same notion that tells you, if you leave, you have zero value.
This seems to belie some of the skills corporate culture demands of executives—adaptability, the ability to move through ambiguity, translating skill sets as priorities get reassessed. On the other hand, as a fractional consultant, even if working in a niche space, you determine your worth, and you unearth skills that translate to get the job done. You’re not competing with colleagues, but providing a specific solution. Sometimes this will lead to future opportunities, and sometimes it won’t. But gone is that nagging pressure to reach the top of the ladder, because there is no ladder, only the work.
Ahead, I’m detailing key insights from my first 30 days as a fractional consultant. Come along on my journey.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1 Project of engagement offered to me by former colleague
2 Scopes of work out to potential clients
2 New skills learned
2 Panic attacks (and several moments of existential angst)
2 Passion projects reignited
6 Targeted networking meetings with peers
12 Events attended
Insight: You’re not on an island as a consultant. In fact, I found more opportunity to reach beyond your everyday network to find community and collaboration than when working in a full-time corporate capacity. I replaced the word “networking” in my vocabulary with the phrase “community building.”
Insight: Stability in the full-time corporate world is a myth. Stakeholders who have zero interaction with your day-to-day work can reach a decision that results in a reorg or layoffs at any time.
Insight: Self-care is non-negotiable. When I was working in the corporate world, burnout was a bit of a badge of honor: Look how hard I’m working for you! I’m sick for the fourth week in a row! When you’re clocking into yourself, there’s no room for this mentality. I started each day with a strength-training exercise, even if it was just five minutes. I nourished my body with shakes and superfoods even when I had no appetite: As a woman, I wanted to resist the urge to make my body smaller during times of uncertainty.
Insight: Take time to upskill. This is where community comes in. I found collaborative partners who helped me work on decks to present project bids or a scope of work. While graphic design has never been my skill set, visual communication of who you are as a fractional leader is vital. AI templates can help—but I found just two work sessions with a design pro helped me upskill my decks.
Insight: Celebrate small wins. A potential client reached out to tell me how impressed she was with the thoughtfulness put into the SOW I prepared for her. Even if I don’t win this bid, I am celebrating this validation. Bespoke decks go a long way in communicating your personal branding and work ethic.
Insight: Work begets work. When a former colleague reached out to me about contracting me for a big project, it’s tempting to say that an opportunity fell in my lap. Not so! This was a direct result of my past achievements. Because I had other project bids on my table, I was in a position to negotiate for a higher fee. I got it.
Insight: You don’t have to start out at C-suite level to go fractional. A good fractional consultant enmeshed with and supported by a community of talented collaborators will be constantly upskilling. Do the work. Land the projects. Learn from not landing the projects. Full-time corporate isn’t the only way to ascend to the type of high-level work of which you’re capable. Look for opportunities, not titles.
Insight: Panic attacks happen. After all, change by definition is a routine disruptor. One technique that helped me stave off panic attacks is to preempt them. Allow yourself to worry and ask “what if?” — do this for a set period of time, like five to 10 minutes a day. Then turn off the worry and get on with your day, knowing you can have your worry time again, tomorrow. This will prevent the worry from building up into panic. If it does build up, the best recourse is to get a change of scenery. Get outside and go for a walk. Tackle a spring cleaning project.
Insight: RSVP, “YES.” Whether you offer to help organize or are an attendant, IRL events help structure your day and allow you to engage with like minded peers. Just be careful of event burnout, which is a thing. PR reps have communicated their biggest pet peeve is when people ignore their invites, so be cognizant of others, and if you can’t make it, always send a note.
Insight: Listen to how others frame your skill sets and superpowers. Again, this is where community is critical. Workshop your elevator pitch and ask for feedback. I’m still working on mine, but I have a better handle on what I can offer now than at the beginning of the month. My biggest takeaway is to reach for opportunities even if they’re not a 1:1 match to what I’ve previously done. Not only do skills translate, adaptability and confidence to navigate ambiguity is a hallmark of adept leadership.
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