We hired a fractional Chief Information Security Officer to secure our data before due diligence. However, our internal team is ignoring his directives because they say he is only part-time. How do we reflect a fractional leader on our Accountability Chart so they have the actual authority to drive results?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A fractional leader is not an outside consultant who gives advice from the sidelines. They must own their seat completely. To make this work, you must place the fractional Chief Information Security Officer directly on your Accountability Chart in the CISO seat, reporting to the Integrator. On the chart, there should be no distinction between a full-time employee and a fractional contractor. The box looks exactly the same, and their name goes in it. This visually signals to your entire organization that this individual has the full authority and accountability that comes with the seat. Next, clearly communicate the five major roles of this seat to the entire company. Let the team know that when the CISO issues a directive regarding data security, they are speaking with the authority of the leadership team. During your weekly Level 10 Meetings, the fractional leader must run their portion of the meeting, report on their metrics, and own their Rocks just like everyone else. If your internal team continues to bypass them, the Integrator must step in, IDS the issue, and reinforce the reporting structure. A fractional leader can only protect your data and prepare you for due diligence if you empower them with real, visible authority on your Accountability Chart.