Fractional Leadership vs. Consulting: What’s the Difference?
When an organization hits a critical moment — rapid growth, executive turnover, or a stalled strategy — one question often arises: Do we need a consultant, or do we need a fractional executive?
At first glance, the two can look similar. Both bring outside expertise. Both help organizations move through complex challenges. But the way they engage—and the outcomes they deliver—are very different. That’s why leaders turn to experts like Shane Kinkennon, who has spent decades guiding boards, executives, and management teams through pressure moments, both as a consultant and as a fractional executive.
Understanding the difference between fractional leadership vs. consulting could be the key to unlocking not just good advice, but forward momentum and sustained organizational growth.
What Consulting Really Delivers
Executive consulting is primarily about insight and recommendations. A consultant comes in to analyze, evaluate, and provide strategic guidance. They might help your leadership team identify blind spots, assess inefficiencies, or develop a sharper operating strategy.
A consultant’s superpower is perspective. They’re not entangled in the daily politics or constraints of your team, which means they can see the big picture with fresh eyes. When Shane steps into a consulting role, for example, he helps leadership teams gain clarity, sharpen strategy, and align operations to mission— classic elements of effective executive advisory services.
But here’s the distinction: most consultants stop short of actually owning execution. They provide the map—you and your team still have to do the driving.
What Fractional Leadership Brings to the Table
Fractional leadership is different. Fractional executives — such as a fractional COO, Chief Strategy Officer, or interim executive — don’t just offer advice; they lead from within.
Rather than standing at the whiteboard, they:
Lead teams directly.
Make operational and strategic decisions.
Embed themselves into your culture.
Own outcomes, not just ideas.
This is where Shane’s fractional leadership consulting work shines. Having served as both a COO and Chief Strategy Officer himself, he knows how to integrate quickly, earn trust fast, and move strategy off the page and into daily reality. Leaders don’t just get advice—they get momentum.
Why the Difference Matters
The distinction between consulting and fractional leadership comes down to execution and accountability:
Consultants recommend.
Fractional executives lead.
One operates externally; the other embeds within your team.
If what you need is an objective assessment, a new framework, or specialized insight, executive consulting is the right move. But if your organization needs hands-on leadership to implement strategy, manage teams, and drive transformation, fractional leadership — or an interim executive role — delivers greater traction.
This embedded leadership model provides not only advice but day-to-day leadership execution — ensuring progress doesn’t stall after the plan is written.
When to Choose Consulting
Consulting makes sense when you:
Need an objective assessment of strategy or structure.
Want to uncover gaps and inefficiencies.
Are seeking a new framework for decision-making.
Have a capable team ready to implement once the recommendations are clear.
In these scenarios, Shane’s leadership consulting engagements bring clarity, structure, and strategic alignment that leaders can immediately apply.
When to Choose Fractional Leadership
Fractional leadership is the better fit when you:
Have a leadership vacancy that can’t remain open.
Need someone to own execution of a strategy, not just design it.
Are navigating a period of high growth or transition.
Want an embedded leader who integrates quickly and leads decisively.
When Shane steps into a fractional COO or Chief Strategy Officer role, he’s not standing on the sidelines. He’s leading initiatives, making operational calls, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with executive teams to ensure progress is immediate and sustainable.
His fractional executive leadership approach combines accountability, adaptability, and a results-driven mindset — the difference between advice and actual performance.
The Bottom Line
Both consulting and fractional leadership bring value — but they serve different needs. Consulting provides expert analysis and direction. Fractional leadership delivers execution, leadership continuity, and results.
The smartest organizations don’t see it as an either/or. Many begin with executive consulting to gain clarity, then transition into fractional leadership when they need embedded leadership and operational execution.
If your organization is at an inflection point and you’re weighing the choice between consulting and fractional leadership, Shane Kinkennon can help you decide what fits. He’s led in both capacities — as a consultant and as a fractional executive — and he knows when leaders
