Six years ago, I was responsible for sending an email to announce the death of an employee after a tragic accident. In the weeks that followed, I resigned from my role. This is about what grief taught me about leadership and the kinds of losses we cannot name.

It's 2:30 PM on a Tuesday. I'm giving strategic advice to a client about staying calm and focused during growth. Meanwhile, I'm questioning everything because the Phillies just blew another lead, and the world feels chaotic. This is a fractional executive reality during the hunt for a red October.

Fractional work can be incredibly powerful. It's also nuanced, complex, and requires more than just showing up part-time. The most valuable fractional executives are partners who can rapidly diagnose organizational needs and create a meaningful impact on a shorter-than-average timeline.