Roles, Responsibilities and All That Jazz

In my business career I’ve made many mistakes; of course I’ve had successes too, however I’ve only recently figured out the importance of clearly defined roles and responsibilities. I think there are several aspects of this crucial business ingredient.

First, for me, it helps to know what people should be doing each day. I can test their actions against the documented responsibilities of that person to make sure they are aligned. As simple as it sounds, I suspect it is all too often overlooked; I know I have.

Second, I think it is a critical factor in successful communication. I’m sure most entrepreneurs will realize the importance of effective communication, but will also appreciate how fragile this can be. Communication begins with respect. When roles and responsibilities are documented, people know where they stand and how they are supposed to interact with each other; and that’s the basis of respect.

Sometimes it takes a breakdown to have a breakthrough. When it comes to figuring out how this team fits together, establishing roles and responsibilities is the first step to accomplishing our goals.