“The more time you give for something to happen, the greater the scope creep that occurs.”
When Mike Simmons joins me on the podcast, I know the conversation will challenge assumptions about leadership. This time, it centered around one of the trickiest aspects of fractional leadership: time. Too often, organizations assume that meaningful change must take months or even years to unfold. In reality, progress doesn’t always have to be slow and drawn out.
A common challenge we see with fractional leaders is that belief that it will take six to twelve months to see results. Some changes can happen much faster though. Sometimes in weeks, or even a single meeting. The key is breaking work into focused, intentional sprints. Rather than making assumptions about what the next year will look like, shorter time frames allow us to see what’s working, adjust, and stay aligned with what an organization really needs.
That sprint mindset prevents scope creep and ensures accountability. It keeps both leaders and organizations assessing fit along the way. After all, not every leader fits every organization, and not every strategy fits every moment. The flexibility of a sprint-based approach makes space for reflection, recalibration, and ultimately, greater impact.
Ask yourself, ” is the work being done for your own comfort, or is it truly serving the customer?” It’s a simple but powerful lens for leadership. Sometimes the right shift is quicker and more possible than you think.
Connect with Mike Simmons:
Connect with Tim and his team:
Website: https://bestculturesolutions.ca/
LinkedIn: Best Culture Solutions, Inc
Instagram: @best.culture.solutions
Email: tim@bestculturesolutions.ca
Notable Moments
[00:01:34] Mike introduces the common misconception that fractional leadership always takes a long time.
[00:02:52] Rethinking six-to-twelve-month agreements—asking “what if” it could be faster.
[00:05:22] How two-week sprints provide structure, focus, and accountability.
[00:07:36] Using sprints to continually assess fit between leader and organization.
[00:09:44] Why a beginner’s mind is critical to avoid assumptions.
[00:11:42] The difference between sprint-based work and traditional retainer models.
[00:12:17] Tim shares his first experience at Buc-ee’s—and connects it to designing for customer needs.
[00:14:44] Resources from Mike: FindMyCatalyst.com/fractional and the Find My Catalyst podcast.
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