By: Nicole Mennicke, Fractional Integrator

Whether you’re the kickass fractional integrator or an EOS Implementer, finding the right counterpart is the key to amazing upward growth. In this post and a future post, we will explore the differences between the two roles and look at how the roles play off of and support one another for the right kind of gritty traction that takes a business to the next level.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

The EOS Implementer is the guide for the leadership teams as they work ON the business each quarter. They are asking the questions, bringing the team back to the company’s Core Values and serving as the facilitator of the group dialog that happens in quarterly and annual sessions. They point out any straying from the system and give context to how decisions are made, why accountability matters, when to address conflict and what tools to use in a given situation.

The fractional integrator is the Integrator™ for the business. Whether fractional or full-time, the Integrator is the master communicator, genius executioner, and sets the tone for and the pulse of the overall team. Their support is key to the health of the business as they serve as the connector between the Visionary’s big ideas and the execution of the team. The Integrator is the glue holding things together with a laser focus on moving the company goals forward.

SHARED GOAL: TEAM EMPOWERMENT

For this duo to work their magic, both must respect and own their roles for the greater good of the team. Leadership must understand which of the positions they go to with questions, for support, or to put ideas into action. Working with an operating system like EOS®, the upfront work of understanding roles, working with and experiencing a variety of tools is often a front-loaded workload. The long-term benefit is a shared language, universal processes and procedures, and everyone moving in the same direction. For those invested in the success of the company, understanding the key roles of the Integrator and the EOS Implementer is foundational to the overall growth and trajectory of the team.

Once the roles are understood, the value of the EOS Implementer and the Integrator truly begins. Ultimately, the goal of both seats is to provide the tools, resources, and information to the team so each seat on the accountability chart operates at the highest efficiency possible while making the right tactical contributions to the overall team. The proverb “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime” is fitting.

An EOS Implementer is often with an organization for around 2 years. Other times, they provide their support until a time when the team feels confident about running their sessions independently. Integrators, when fractional, are intended to be the support for companies finding themselves in the “messy middle”. Fractional integrators are guides who step fully into the role, injecting EOS knowledge and mentoring where needed while setting the team up for success with a full-time Integrator. As integrators do, they may have the capability to “stand” in other seats as needed, though good fractional executives make it clear that they will only fill the role temporarily. The shared goal is to develop and empower teams to fill those seats with the best and right people.

A COMMITMENT TO EOS PURITY

“I am so glad to have an evangelist in the room to help maintain purity.”

Shane Spillers, Certified EOS Implementer®

When the EOS Implementer and the Integrator duo find their groove, they serve as one another’s cheerleader, support system, and counterpart in moving the business forward and empowering the team. When humming, this duo brings clarity, translation and implementation of the vision, and shines light on the power of the operating system. The EOS Implementer is the facilitator of the bigger picture while the Integrator hones in on the day-to-day operations. This duo is the support and model for EOS pure; one at a high level, the other at a tactical level.

So, how is the health of your EOS Implementer / Integrator duo? Are both working together to bring more clarity, vision, and communication to your team? If so, congratulations! If not, consider calling Catalyst Integrators™ to learn more about how a fractional integrator might be a solution for your messy middle. We’d love to help!

We can all think of those women who have made an impact on our lives for the better. If I asked you to pick the one most influential females in your life, could you choose only one? It’s likely your list is long, just like mine is. Let’s keep it top of mind to celebrate those badass women in our lives shall we?

March is National Women’s History Month, with March 8 designated specifically as International Women’s Day (you can celebrate by wearing purple!). Our team always looks for ways to support, lift, celebrate, and honor the many women who make our world turn. In fact, the majority of our Catalyst team have all met one another through the Female Integrator Mastermind group! We thrive on the energy each and every one of us brings to the table and believe that because of our differences in gifts, we are a stronger team together. In honor of National Women’s Month, we invite you to celebrate the women in your life too!

When you want to show appreciation for someone, the smallest of gestures, when delivered with authenticity, can make the biggest of impressions. We’ve got some ideas for you to honor and show gratitude for those women in your life, today, this month and anytime and they all range in cost. Now, these ideas are focused on celebrating any of the women in your life, not just those you work with.

THE POWER OF THE HANDWRITTEN NOTE

Think about the last time you received a handwritten note in the mail. I bet it had an impact and likely even made you smile. When you have something important to say, consider putting it in your own handwriting and send it off to someone who may need to hear it. Words matter. Being specific about what you’re thankful for in the person’s actions, efforts, or values can provide encouragement and a lift extending beyond just when the card or note is opened.

THE GIFT OF TIME

How about the simple gift of your time? If your mentor, team member, or favorite female inspiration is remote, why not suggest a virtual happy hour or coffee catch-up? Taking time to lean deeper into getting to know someone, encouraging, and just plain listening shows the other person you truly care. The chance to do the same in person can also be powerful and the gift of your time is one of the most valuable things you can give, especially in a world where busy-ness and so many competing priorities is overwhelming for all of us.

SHARE A MEAL

How about an impromptu coffee, lunch or dinner out. This gift not only gives of your time, but it can also show the woman you are honoring that you’ve paid attention by picking a spot you know they’ll enjoy. Sit and enjoy the conversation together…no phones!

THE DAY-LONG CELEBRATION

With a bit more investment, treating the woman (or women) who impact your life to a pedicure, spa day or day off can be a win-win for you and the friend/mentor/boss/mother/wife/etc. Of course, this works as a gift of gratitude if it’s an experience the person for whom you’re grateful would find it relaxing and rejuvenating. Living our ideal lives can’t be all about the work. Making the time for other passions and taking care of ourselves so we can be there for others is how we keep moving forward.

So, whether you choose a small, meaningful gift, a grand gesture such as a surprise party, a day off, or a big bonus, the gift of your time and attention are free and typically mean more. As you think about and then choose the woman or women you wish to honor and lift during the National Women’s Month this March, know that the Catalyst Integrators Team is grateful for those women who lead the way. The younger generation is watching and we have a responsibility to them, to ourselves, and to those powerful, badass women who have come before us.

Shout your gratitude to the incredible women in your life from the rooftops! Or, if you prefer, honor them silently or anonymously; or somewhere in between. Everyone appreciates being noticed. A word of gratitude, an acknowledgement of a job well done or an impact made, a gesture large or small can make someone’s day. Whose day will you make? Honor those badass women in your life with intentionality.