Do You Already Have an Integrator?

The Fractional Integrator business model presupposes that an organization does *not* have an internal Integrator.  Unlike other fractional models (CFO, Marketing, HR, even COO or President), the Integrator role is not typically titled this way, and the skillset could be paired with a specific discipline leadership role as well.

This is one reason why AJC typically recommends beginning an engagement with a Needs Assessment.  We recently completed an Integrator Needs Assessment for a great company.  The Leadership Team had been using EOS with an Implementer for about a year and had flip-flopped a couple people in and out of the Integrator seat over that time period.  Neither of them particularly cared for the role, and consequently believed there was a void in the organization for an Integrator.

When the company contacted us, the original idea was that the Integrator Needs Assessment would determine the level of effort required and specific areas to prioritized for a Fractional Integrator resource.  The results, however, turned out very differently.

Over the course of the Needs Assessment, we spoke with several individuals on the Leadership Team and in management level roles within the organization.  We observed the organization over the course of “normal” working hours, sat in a couple L10 meetings, and reviewed the Accountability chart and several documents.  We also asked four individuals at the Executive level to take both the Visionary and Integrator Assessments available online.  

Interestingly, the Needs Assessment revealed that there was a key individual *already* in the organization who “got it,” had the desire for it (“wanted it”), and through the assessment and discussions “had the capacity to do it.”  This person was doing most of it already and had earned the trust of all levels of the organization.  In other words, the person had the GWC and already was acting in the role without formally holding the title.

Now the next steps are very different than originally assumed.  The person who already behaves as an Integrator does have some gap areas for coaching, and the organization could use some business process shoring up to help set the new Integrator up for success.  However, coaching and establishing processes for others to carry on in the future are very different value propositions than filling a seat.  These opportunities will enable this organization to be self-sustaining without the churn of a changing Integrator resource in the future when the fractional role is over.  

Fractional Integrators can still be a great option for an organization who truly does not have someone internally able to fill this role.  We discussed when this may be true, and what value a Fractional Integrator could bring to the table in our recent article “What the Heck is a Fractional Integrator Anyway?”  However, just like most things in life, it is best to look before you leap – evaluate the current state before plugging in a solution.  The best way to that is with an up-front Needs Assessment.  Who knows?  You may already have an Integrator sitting in your organization today!

Stay tuned for our next monthly newsletter in which AJC further discusses how an Integrator Needs Assessment could lead to the Fractional Integrator or Coaching model that is right for your organization.

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