Faye Almeshaan’s Post

What does a COO actually do? A question I’m asked regularly. I’m a fractional Chief Ops Officer (COO) specifically for small companies (who want to disrupt the narrative). See me as the ‘how’ to your ‘why’. You have a big vision and I have the ability to create a plan that outlines ‘how’ we will achieve it and ‘who’ we need to get there. I’ll also roll my sleeves up and get into the weeds with you. Here’s some of the key aspects I support my clients with: ➡️ Strategy! I help to refine a strategy, or road map, against the founder’s vision. It’s then my job to implement this strategy across your company. ➡️People! I love a people strategy! This includes looking at what you want to achieve and who we need to get you there. I’ve created company structures, skills and capacity audits, training and development frameworks, team wellbeing plans and implemented performance review structures. All of these have been created in line with the values of the founder. I don’t do crap HR - I build companies that are great to work in. ➡️Products! I build out revenue generating products or services with customers and developers. Working to build something that can have a positive social impact at scale, keeping an eye on user experience and impact data. ➡️Processes! A large part of a founders day will be taken up with the day-to-day running of a small team. Having me on board means support in running the team and systems to get the work moving. ➡️ Hats! Because life in a small team requires everyone to wear a thousand hats, I’ll also get involved with sales, marketing strategies, comms and storytelling. I write impact reports and OBVIOUSLY grant applications are on my list too. So, I pretty much do a bit of everything 😅 Hearing the words “help build this company” is music to my ears and I absolutely bloody love it! ———————— 👋I’m Karen and I help small impact-driven organisations build businesses that do good and are great to work in. Interested in building the policies, people strategies and products that take you from great idea to big impact? Just want a rant about the state of it all?? Feel free to connect/DM!

Is your company ready to scale but hesitant to commit to a full-time COO? A fractional COO might be the strategic move your business needs. Here are a few points I've found from various articles that explain why: - Growth-enabling: A fractional COO allows your leaders and CEO to concentrate on the company's long-term vision and strategy, ensuring that high-level goals are not just set but achieved. - Clear direction: Your project management and operations teams can dedicate more time to what they do best—execution—while your fractional COO handles the strategic oversight. - Flexibility: Businesses grow at different paces. A fractional COO offers the flexibility to adjust their involvement based on your current needs, providing precisely the right level of support without overcommitting resources. - Reduced risk: Opting for a fractional COO minimizes risk. You benefit from the expertise of someone with a proven track record in guiding a business like yours without the gamble of a permanent hire. I'd love to hear your thoughts or experiences with this. How has a fractional COO impacted your company? #FractionalCOO #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStrategy

For a while now I've been a fractional COO and troubleshoooter. I'm coming back from paternity leave and looking for new projects. Typically I work directly with the CEO, founding team, and senior leadership when the business doesn't want, can't afford, or doesn't yet have, a full-time COO. I've learned this is what I'm happiest doing - and it remains a privilege when founders and their teams invite me in to help with their startup! Maybe it's time to pay down some people/ops 'debt' because things are starting to break? Maybe you're hitting problems of success as product/market fit is achieved? Some specific examples: 👉🏻 troubleshooting urgent personnel issues 👉🏻 galvanising hiring 👉🏻 improving unit economics 👉🏻 rebalancing costs to extend runway or divert efforts to mission-critical-only 👉🏻 shoring up People 'scaffolding' (performance reviews, manager empowerment & training, HR/contract/share option essentials) 👉🏻 embedding strategy into the day-to-day (writing the plan down, elevating KPIs, setting OKRs) Working fractionally (a few hours to a few days per week) means I can be hands-on pretty immediately - without you having to hire, onboard, and pay for a full-time exec. I'm a 2x founder (Songkick, Silicon Milkroundabout) with deep experience building and scaling teams. If you're at all curious as to whether I could help you in 2024, DM me and let's set up a time to chat.

Don’t hire a COO. Yet. If you are like most $3M business owners (and I see this all the time), You need to transition from doing it all yourself to having a COO. Because jumping straight into having a COO is too much of a shock. It slows things down instead of speeding them up. When business owners aren’t ready to let go, this is what usually happens: - Handing things off and then taking them back before work is finished, causing confusion, rework, and missed deadlines. - Giving the new COO tasks a lower-lever staff person could handle, which wastes resources, causes frustration, and significantly increases costs. - Overriding or arguing with the new COO in meetings, which confuses the staff, creates a negative culture, and leads to productivity and quality issues. All of these wind up wasting thousands of hours & hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s why taking a phased approach to bringing in a COO is so valuable. - You’re clear on your role and theirs. - You’re prepared for a smooth, low-stress transition. - You’ve got a firm foundation that can support growth. And best of all, Because your new COO is set up to succeed, Your investment will pay off.

When is the Right Time to Hire a Fractional COO? As a business owner, you’ve likely reached a point where growth feels overwhelming. The systems and processes that once worked are now stretched thin, team accountability feels misaligned, and the operational demands of running the business are pulling you away from your vision. Sound familiar? 🤔 This is when many leaders realize the value of a Fractional COO. A Fractional COO is more than just an operations expert—they’re a strategic partner who brings structure, clarity, and scalability to your business. Acting as your trusted second-in-command, they take ownership of processes, align your team, and create scalable systems to set you up for sustainable growth. 🤩 Here are some clear indicators that it might be time to bring in a Fractional COO: ➡️ Your focus is stuck on daily operations instead of high-level strategy. ➡️ Strategic initiatives like product launches or expansion plans are constantly delayed. ➡️ Your team struggles with accountability, missed deadlines, and misalignment. ➡️ Transitions like rapid growth or leadership changes feel chaotic without clear systems. At The COO Solution™, we understand that timing is everything. A well-timed Fractional COO can turn overwhelm into opportunity by streamlining workflows, empowering teams, and freeing owners to focus on what they do best—leading the business forward. 💨 One of our clients faced rapid growth but needed more efficient systems and a team under pressure. By bringing in a Fractional COO, we restructured their workflows, optimized their team, and implemented scalable solutions. Within months, they regained focus, clarity, and control over their growth trajectory. ✨ Hiring a Fractional COO isn’t just about fixing challenges—it’s about preparing your business for what’s next. Is now the right time for a Fractional COO? Explore the full blog here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d48vVmJT Let’s connect to explore how operational clarity can transform your business.

You've got a growing business. Things are moving fast. You're wearing a lot of hats, and you're starting to feel overwhelmed. You know you need someone to take over the day-to-day operations, so you can focus on the big picture. But should you hire a full-time COO or a Fractional COO (spoiler alert: you probably know which way this is going)? Let's break it down. Full-Time COO A full-time COO is a dedicated executive who is fully committed to your company. They'll be on-site, working regular hours, and deeply involved in every aspect of your business. This level of commitment can be invaluable, especially for companies with big budgets and deep pockets that are undergoing significant transformation. And it can also be VERY expensive; the RIGHT COO is "expensive" to hire. The WRONG COO will cost you even more down the line. Fractional COO A Fractional COO, on the other hand, is a part-time executive who provides strategic guidance and operational expertise on a flexible basis. They typically work with multiple clients, which means they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from a variety of industries. Not only that, they're paid to do a job and do it well. Because their time is limited, they work on the projects most important to you, manage the people most critical to your business' success, teach the systems and processes necessary for your business to thrive and become a valuable member of your team…all at a "bargain" price compared to their full-time counterparts. When to Hire a Fractional COO Smaller/growing businesses: If you're a smaller or growing business, a Fractional COO can provide the expertise you need without the high cost of a full-time executive. Temporary needs: If you have a temporary need, such as a major project or a leadership gap, a Fractional COO can provide short-term support. Specific expertise: If you need specific expertise, such as experience in a particular industry or function, a Fractional COO can provide the targeted skills you need. Remember, the right COO can make a huge difference in the success of your business. So, choose wisely! Thank you for coming to my #FredTalk (originally posted on my website ZeroPointCreations.com)

What's the difference between a startup and corporate Chief of Staff? ⬇️ 🌟 A startup Chief of Staff usually serves a CEO. 🚀 A corporate Chief of Staff might support a CEO, President, EVP, or Director across a larger team. 🌟 A startup Chief of Staff builds foundational processes and playbooks from scratch. 🚀 A corporate Chief of Staff refines and enhances existing systems. 🌟 A startup Chief of Staff operates as more of a pure operations generalist. 🚀 A corporate Chief of Staff works more as an executive project manager, working across functions. 🌟 A startup Chief of Staff wears multiple hats, from hiring to strategy to special projects. 🚀 A corporate Chief of Staff focuses on the area their Principal leads, often supported by dedicated resources. 🌟 A startup Chief of Staff is more often a complement to their Principal. 🚀 A corporate Chief of Staff is more often an amplification of their Principal. Both roles focus on the 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 of the organization while serving their Principal, but given the scale and size of a corporation vs startup, the execution of these 3️⃣ categories can look quite different! What other differences do you see between a startup and corporate Chief of Staff role? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️ ♻️ Found this useful? Repost and share! 👋 I post about the Chief of Staff role daily. Follow for more!

The fractional COO model is a burgeoning market many small to mid-size firms would greatly benefit from but are unaware of. For small firms looking to grow, having access to experienced operational leadership is essential—but hiring a full-time COO often isn’t feasible. That’s where fractional COOs come in. These experienced professionals offer high-level strategic guidance on a part-time basis, allowing small firms to benefit from critical leadership without the financial burden of a full-time executive. Fractional COOs bring a wealth of knowledge in streamlining operations, optimizing processes, and scaling businesses. They can help firms set clear goals, implement efficient systems, and align teams to meet growth objectives, all while working within a firm’s existing resources. By providing flexible, on-demand support, fractional COOs allow small firms to scale strategically and sustainably. They offer the operational insight needed to overcome growing pains—whether it's improving cash flow, enhancing team collaboration, or introducing new technologies. Fractional COOs empower business owners to focus on core services while ensuring that operations are running smoothly behind the scenes. For firms that want to grow but aren’t ready for a full-time commitment, a fractional COO offers a perfect solution to bridge the gap between ambition and capacity.

As the founder of COHIRE, I often get asked: “𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘟𝘖?” I’d say it’s a bit like deciding between buying a luxury car and renting one for a road trip. If you need it every day, year-round, buying makes sense. But if it’s for a specific journey, renting is smarter, more agile, and gives you exactly what you need for that moment. Here’s how I see it: ➡️ 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 Let’s say you’re building a company poised for steady, long-term growth. You’ve secured funding and need someone to lead from the front, not just for the next quarter but for years ahead. In this case, a full-time executive is the right choice. They can immerse themselves in your culture, set a vision, and stay invested in your long-term goals. ➡️ 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐗𝐎𝐬 Now, let’s picture a startup preparing for a critical funding round. You need a CFO to refine your financial strategy and craft a compelling pitch deck, but hiring someone full-time isn’t practical since it’s a project-specific need. This is where a Fractional CFO comes in—bringing in top-tier expertise to deliver high-impact results for the duration of the project, without the need for a long-term hire. It’s a flexible, scalable solution that aligns perfectly with the evolving demands of a growing business. I’ve seen many companies thrive by blending both models—using Fractional CXOs to tackle specific challenges while building a core leadership team for the future. It’s not about choosing one over the other; it’s about what serves your business best in the moment. What’s your take? Have you worked with a Fractional CXO or considered it? Let’s chat in the comments! #FractionalCXOs #COHIRE #Leadership #CXO #Startup #SMEs #FutureOfWork

Thank you for sharing your perspective! You bring up valid points about the potential pitfalls of high-level strategy without execution, and it’s an important conversation. As a Fractional COO, I believe that the role must go beyond strategy to truly add value. It's about balancing high-level vision with on-the-ground execution. For example: - "Getting my hands dirty" is non-negotiable—I see myself as an extension of the team, bridging gaps until the company is ready for full-time resources. I understand not everyone feels that same way. - I work directly with teams, not just as a leader but as a collaborator, ensuring alignment and buy-in. - My focus is on building sustainable systems that are practical, actionable, and empower the team long after my engagement ends. The idea of a Flex Executor is interesting and aligns with what many businesses need—agile, adaptable leadership that fills gaps while driving growth. The value of a Fractional COO is providing both strategic clarity and hands-on implementation, ensuring that when a full-time leader steps in, they inherit a well-oiled operation, not "remainders." Thanks again for sparking such an important conversation!