Sha’ Cannon, an award-winning fractional leader, talks about how she transformed the modern leadership model into a path toward professional freedom and sustainable success.
Sha’ Cannon is an Award-Winning Fractional COO to an exclusive clientele of 6 & 7-figure CEOs while having the freedom to live and work her business from anywhere in the world. Currently on a tour of SE Asia, she uses her superpowers to position Black and Brown, female, online service-based entrepreneurs to reach their first 6 figures by structuring their time, offers, and operations to fund their freedom lifestyle. She has been featured by Time Magazine’s Next Advisor, Delta Airlines Podcast, Fast Company, Thrive Global, Yahoo, and more.
Fractional Insider: How was your transition from a traditional career to fractional leadership/consulting?
Sha’ Cannon: My transition fulfilled my dream of more freedom and control over not only the use of my expertise, but also how it impacted the lifestyle I wanted to live. Being a fractional leader allows me to choose who I would like to work with, in what capacity I’d like to work, the fee I would like to charge, and my availability.
Fractional Insider: What attracted you most to this model, and what challenges did it bring?
Sha’ Cannon: The freedom attracted me the most, followed by the ability to demand my desired fees. I feel the top challenge in being a Fractional Chief Operating Officer is that I am responsible for crisis management. Large scale issues can eat into the fractional hours set for your service. Despite being contracted for a set number of hours, a crisis creates unexpected and increased need for your expertise.
Fractional Insider: How do you choose the projects and clients you work with?
Sha’ Cannon: Besides the preference to work with BIPOC female led online, service-based businesses, the biggest qualifier of alignment for how I choose clients is their acceptance of the boundaries that guard my freedom. I have very structured communication protocols, hours of operation, scheduling of meetings, and vacation time. An example can be seen HERE.
Fractional Insider: Tell us about a moment when you had a major impact as a fractional leader.
Sha’ Cannon: I have restructured the team and operations for a business that led to them going from being in the negative to generating multiple 6 figures in revenue. I had another client with revenue at $250,000. After increasing efficiency to launch more and spearheading the creation of a high ticket offer that was a natural next step for her current clients, we were able to double revenue and reach half a million dollars in revenue. Restructuring can reset a business’ ability to bring in more money.
Fractional Insider: What are the main differences between being a full-time executive and a fractional one?
Sha’ Cannon: The main difference is in the titles: working on a fractional basis rather than a full-time one. However, fractional can mean they get a fraction of your time by not being the only client or they get a fraction of your time in that you are with them for a limited time. Either way, you have more control over how much of you and your expertise is committed to clients.
Fractional Insider: How do you explain the value of a fractional leader to a skeptical CEO?
Sha’ Cannon: I start with a discovery call to find out exactly the issues causing them the most pain with their business. Once I determine the capacity in which I can resolve those issues and the cost, I simply 1) explain the value of a FCOO, 2) contrast and compare my fractional fee to the cost of a full-time COO, and 3) end with the cost of not hiring me. Providing outside, high-authority sources that support these points is an added bonus to cement their trust and impact positively on their buying decision.
Fractional Insider: What are the most common mistakes companies make when working with fractionals?
Sha’ Cannon: Not starting with an assessment that becomes the foundation of an action plan with a 30, 60, and 90 day breakdown. It should also be explained that putting out expected fires is a part of the service, however, it will impact the execution and deadlines of the agreed upon service plan.
Fractional Insider: How do you see this career model evolving in the coming years?
Sha’ Cannon: With more and more businesses feeling negative economic and business development pressures, they cannot afford full-time roles in leadership but also, they are hard pressed to scale without them. Fractional leadership is a viable solution and could potentially pay for itself.
Fractional Insider: What advice would you give to a senior professional considering becoming fractional?
Sha’ Cannon: My biggest piece of advice is for them to specialize in an aspect of the full-time role so that a specific transformation can be given to the client. As a FCOO there are so many parts of operation that I could work in, however, I specialize in the management of operations, teams, change, crisis, and even the CEOs. I do not focus on compliance, finances, business development, and other areas that some COOs include in their role.
Through her vision and experience, Sha’ Cannon proves that fractional leadership is not only about operational efficiency but also about the freedom to build a career and lifestyle aligned with one’s values.
