Trust: The Foundation of Sustainable Business Relationships
In today’s market, people’s beliefs and values shape their decisions more than ever. 60% of employees choose to work for companies based on shared values. As a fractional consultant, aligning with businesses that resonate with your principles can be the key to making a meaningful impact. This is where the Fractional Consultant Framework becomes essential.
Business leaders want more than just expertise—they seek partners who understand their mission, values, and vision. The best consultants don’t just provide solutions; they build trust by reinforcing what companies stand for.
As Simon Sinek put it: “Value, by definition, is the transference of trust. You can’t convince someone you have value, just as you can’t convince someone to trust you. You have to earn trust by communicating and demonstrating that you share the same values and beliefs.”
The most impactful fractional consultants ensure their clients operate in alignment with their core values. By helping businesses live out their mission authentically, you position yourself as a true strategic partner, not just a temporary advisor.
The 7-S Framework: A Strategic Roadmap for Consultants
One of the best tools for understanding a business’s values and effectiveness is the McKinsey 7-S Framework. Developed in the 1970s by McKinsey consultants Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, this model helps businesses assess their organizational effectiveness and ensures alignment across key business elements.
The 7-S Framework Components:
- Style – The company’s culture and leadership approach
- Skills – The core competencies of the organization and its employees
- Systems – The operational processes, both tangible and intangible
- Structure – The organization’s hierarchy and reporting dynamics
- Staff – The workforce, including full-time employees, contractors, and consultants
- Strategy – The company’s approach to gaining a competitive advantage
- Shared Values – The mission, vision, and fundamental beliefs driving the organization
At the heart of this framework is Shared Values—the foundation of a company’s existence. They are more than just guiding principles; they define why a company exists and the impact it aims to create.
By utilizing the Fractional Consultant Framework, you can apply the 7-S model to assess a company’s current alignment and identify opportunities to strengthen its authenticity and trust with employees and customers.
Implementing the 7-S Framework as a Fractional Consultant
Fractional consultants bring a fresh perspective to a business, enabling them to assess whether the company is living out its Shared Values or drifting away from them. You can use the 7-S Framework to evaluate: Are the company’s stated values reflected in its daily operations? Are employees and leaders embodying these values in decision-making? Does the company’s strategy align with its mission and long-term vision?
Through this approach, you can identify gaps where a company may be losing trust with its team and customers.
How to Determine a Business’s Shared Values
Before applying the 7-S Framework, it’s crucial to uncover what a company truly stands for. Use the following steps to clarify a business’s Shared Values:
- Understand the company’s founding principles by asking leadership:
- What inspired the creation of the business?
- What positive change did they seek to create?
- Who was the business built to serve?
- Analyze the company’s mission, vision, and values:
- What consistent theme runs through all of them?
- If every business decision reflected these values, what would be the impact?
- Clarify and refine the Shared Values:
- Present how these values are perceived externally.
- Identify strengths and inconsistencies between values and business operations.
- Offer actionable strategies to realign processes with core values.
By following this framework, fractional consultants can go beyond executing strategy—they can help businesses scale with integrity. This ensures that growth doesn’t come at the cost of trust, but rather, strengthens brand credibility, employee engagement, and customer loyalty.
The Sobo Advantage: Elevating Fractional Consulting
At Sobo, we’re redefining the future of fractional consulting. Our AI-driven platform connects top-tier fractional consultants with small and mid-sized businesses that align with their expertise and values. By leveraging methodologies like the 7-S Framework, Sobo consultants help companies achieve sustainable, value-driven growth.
Want to make a bigger impact as a fractional consultant? Join Sobo’s network and match with businesses that align with your expertise and mission.
Need expert guidance for your business? Let Sobo’s consultants help you scale while staying true to your values.
Visit Sobo.ai today and start transforming businesses with trust-driven, results-oriented consulting.
