Comments on: 5: Know Your Role

By: Randy Rich

Randy Rich — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:59:55 +0000

I believe it is important that roles are understood on every side. I’ve always looked to management to consistently provide three things…
Decisions
Direction
Support

If they can do that, and then get out of the way, a talented staff can usually carry the day.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:41:48 +0000

In reading your initial topic it makes me think that you have either not read the “One Minute Manager” or have forgotten the principles in it.

This book utilizes the principle that God uses with all of us and that is, He gives us clear direction in what we are to do, and then tells us to return and
report on what we did.

If we do not see that BOTH sides of this communication method are are being used, then we should immediately identify this shortcoming and help train the people around us what good communications are.

Without clarity of direction and expectations, encouragement is of little use.

By: Adam Fairbanks

Adam Fairbanks — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:21:40 +0000

I agree your role includes everything you mention. I trust you also see your role in a much greater context of helping the Church (from the prophet to the individual) more easily and effectively share the Gospel and accomplish the mission of the Church through technology.

Unless you have that overarching vision, you can have the most organized teams running like clockwork using the coolest software meeting every deadline producing myriad deliverables – and still not fulfil the purposes the Lord placed you in your position to accomplish.

[Joel: Adam, I couldn't agree more. We strive to deliver "measureable improvement in the purposes of the Church." My most important indicator of success is the extent to which I help the Brethren accomplish that goal.]

By: Mark Waite

Mark Waite — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 06:05:23 +0000

I think roles can be overstated, inflated, and over-emphasized to the point where they damage an organization. My manager (the vice president of R&D) spends a lot of time, effort, and energy writing and requiring detailed roles, responsibilities, and deliverables documents for the people that report to me, yet I think there are only three fundamental actual roles that report to me. They are:

- Virtual customer (XP’s on-site customer)
- Programmer
- Tester

The other role is “manager” (me) which I try diligently to not instantly convert to “overhead”. It spends too much time as “overhead”, so every effort to prevent

By: John Dilworth

John Dilworth — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:17:53 +0000

When discussing this topic at work, i think I heard it best when it was said this way:

“Your role is to get the job done”

If you think about it this way and focus on the task at hand with teamwork in mind, you’ll soon find and possibly expand the boundaries of your own role.

By: Mario Hipol

Mario Hipol — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:01:33 +0000

I truly appreciate your comments. Being able to understand our roles in a project or organization is critically important, I also believe it is important to allow, even help, others achieve complete functionality in their responsibilities. I would be interested as to the tactical aspect of being non-threatening especially among peers.

By: Naiah Earhart

Naiah Earhart — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:42:24 +0000

Such clarity is vital in any interdependent organization–be it a corporation, a church, or even just a family–vital, yet often overlooked.

I remember from my pre-kids days how when there is no clarity on such matters, ownership of various problems around the office would shift dramatically depending on whether there was praise or responsibility to be doled out.

Such clarity is vital not only in getting the work done, well and efficiently, but also as part of any performance review model. Whether there is praise or responsibility for a project, it’s vital for the managers involved to know who the real producer was, not just who is best able to position themselves when the moment comes.