Hi Reader,
Lately, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with business owners who feel stuck and like they just can't break through to the next level.
Their first thought is usually, “I just need to hire a manager to take things off my plate.”
But here’s the thing: hiring a manager doesn’t always solve the root issue.
When I joined my family’s insurance agency, it had already been running for 10 years. On paper, things looked great — steady revenue, loyal clients, and a team that worked hard. But behind the scenes, we were stretched thin. Everyone was juggling too much, communication was inconsistent, and nearly every decision still had to go through one of us.
Coming from a financial audit background, I couldn’t help but see the gaps. I started asking questions, mapping workflows, and tightening processes — not realizing at the time that I was basically stepping into the role of a fractional COO, just full time.
I clarified roles, built systems for accountability, and gave our team the structure and support they needed to operate more independently. Within five years, our profits grew by over 200%, and we sold the business for three times its revenue.
That experience changed how I look at growth. Because what I see now with almost every client I work with is that hiring a “manager” isn’t always the fix. Sometimes what your business really needs is clarity, not another layer of management.
When you hire a manager, that person usually learns to lead within your existing systems (and your blind spots). But a fractional COO brings a fresh set of eyes and the experience to rebuild operations from the ground up — objectively, strategically, and without the emotional weight that comes with being inside the business.
That’s exactly why I created the Business Operations Audit.
It’s the first step toward seeing your business clearly again. Through this process, we’ll take a deep look at how your business runs day to day to identify where things are getting stuck, what’s working well, and where you’re losing time, energy, or focus. From there, I’ll build a customized 90-day roadmap that outlines exactly what to prioritize, what to streamline, and how to empower your team to execute with confidence.
For businesses that want support implementing that roadmap, I also offer Fractional COO retainer support — where I step in part-time to help you and your team bring the strategy to life. It’s a flexible way to ensure follow-through, consistency, and real operational change without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.
If you’ve been thinking about hiring a manager because you feel maxed out, this might be the better first move.
You can read the full blog post here to learn more about how fractional leadership can help your business grow sustainably, or book a complimentary Discovery Call to see if a Business Operations Audit could help you get out of the weeds and back into your zone of genius.
As always, please feel free to reply directly to this email with any questions, suggestions, or topics that you'd like to see covered in subsequent issues.
See you next month!
Cheers,
Anais
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“A bad system will beat a good person every time.”
- W. Edwards Deming
