The five questions boards and executive directors should ask before bringing an outside People leader inside the tent — and the answers that indicate real fit.
Bringing a fractional HR partner into an organization is a different decision from hiring a consultant. The partner will be inside the room, party to sensitive conversations, and — briefly, at least — a voice the team will listen to. The selection criteria should reflect that.
The five questions in this guide are the ones the strongest boards ask early: What kind of moments have you actually held? How do you decide when to speak and when to hold? Who is your first call when something gets sensitive? What does a clean handover look like? And, plainly: what are you not built for?
Answers to these questions tend to sort candidates quickly. Vague answers are informative. Specific, situation-rooted answers usually indicate real judgment.
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