Over the last 10 to 15 years, discussions about the gig economy have become more prevalent. The concept of individuals working on zero-hour contracts, where a platform dictates their schedule, has gained prominence. More people are using platforms to seek employment, whether in food delivery or low-value knowledge tasks like website design and transcription.

It would be great if there were a ready-made community that you could join. However, this opportunity is not always available.  So, how do you start a community?   

Community doesn’t just happen; it’s not the same as a network.  Nurturing a community requires intentionally finding opportunities for groups to come together.  Whether online, through specific social media platforms, or in person, the value of one-to-one contact cannot be overstated. 

As you enter the second half of your working life, you may naturally transition from seeking success to seeking significance. In that context, finding a community of purpose can be a powerful way to build relationships with others who desire to deliver a similar purpose, creating a sense of belonging and value.   

At one level, these terms—fractional Director, Fractional Executive, Fractional Leader and Portfolio Executive—could be seen as interchangeable.  Still, with the rising popularity of fractional, I am keen to preserve the term Portfolio Executive as different from a Fractional Executive.   

When you step out as Portfolio Executives, you risk becoming isolated.  Often, you are recommended to go out and ‘do networking’.  Networking is a valuable business development activity, but I believe there is a much richer way of thinking about what we need.