Why the roles and responsibilities of a manager matter
Managers lead teams and individuals in your organization, and performing that function involves a variety of tasks. Fully understanding the role of a manager helps those in supervisory positions understand their relationships with both their teams and the rest of the organization.
Seeing how they fit into the bigger picture provides a sense of purpose and can inspire leaders to excel in their positions to benefit your business. Clearly defined roles also create appropriate boundaries between employees and their managers to foster mutual respect and lower the likelihood of personal conflicts undermining the success of the team.
To fulfill their roles, managers have specific duties and responsibilities. Accurately describing the responsibilities of managers lets those who work in supervisory positions know what’s expected of them. This gives them the opportunity to set goals and assess their own performances to improve their leadership skills and manage their teams more effectively.
What are the roles of a manager?
Rather than having a single role, the manager wears many hats, acting as the following.
Leader
The manager sets the vision for their team. They develop the plan and encourage their team to achieve it.
Project manager
A manager turns company goals into actionable project plans. They use budgets, resources and systems efficiently to complete projects within established guidelines.
Coach
Managers train their employees properly and help them grow within the company. They help employees develop skills and improve their performance over time.
Mentor
Managers take the time to learn about the aspirations of their team members and commit to helping them achieve their goals. Then, they guide employees on their journeys toward making their ambitions realities.
Recruiter
Managers are usually involved in the hiring process, helping to fill open positions with quality candidates. They also aid in onboarding by training new employees, explaining company policies, and helping new hires get to know the rest of the team.
Cheerleader
Managers recognize the achievements of employees to help them feel valued. They seek to inspire and motivate them to set them up for future success.
Liaison
Managers connect their teams to other departments and the executive teams of their organizations. They collaborate with other managers as needed and keep lines of communication open between their teams and upper management by communicating about strategies, policies and employee feedback.
Advocate
Managers look out for the interests of their teams. They ensure that their employees have a voice and that upper management understands their needs, goals and challenges.
Referee
Managers help resolve conflicts that arise between coworkers to maintain a positive work environment. In addition, they foster a spirit of teamwork and cooperation to create unified teams.
Expert
Managers serve as valuable resources for their teams. They answer questions, troubleshoot and solve problems, enabling their teams to complete their assigned tasks accurately and efficiently.
Teacher
Managers educate employees on products, services and best practices that are relevant to their roles. They may also be called upon to lead training sessions.
Accountability partner
Managers hold employees accountable for their actions. They enforce policies and handle disciplinary issues when they occur.
Scheduler
Managers ensure that workplaces have adequate staffing to complete the team’s assigned tasks. They may also handle time-off requests and coordinate hybrid work schedules to ensure that employees are in the office when necessary.
Customer service representative
In customer-facing positions, managers contribute to customer satisfaction by handling complaints. They also provide coaching and training to their teams to enhance the customer experience.
What are the responsibilities of a manager?
The specific responsibilities of managers vary by organization. However, there are some general categories of responsibilities shared among most managerial positions. They typically include the following.
Leadership responsibilities
Managers are responsible for creating a vision for their teams and establishing clear goals based on what they envision. They ensure that employees understand the vision and what role they play in helping the team achieve established goals. Once everyone has a shared vision and an appreciation of the goals, they motivate employees to contribute to the success of the team by providing positive feedback and recognition. In addition, they identify obstacles to success and devise solutions to overcome them. When teams achieve their goals, they establish new ones to continue to drive productivity and growth.
Communication responsibilities
Managers are responsible for keeping everyone on the same page through good communication. They conduct meetings to maintain open lines of communication and solicit input and feedback from every member of the team. To foster collaboration, they aid employees in communicating constructively with one another. In addition, they explain company objectives, policies and best practices. To stay in touch with their teams, they may draft and distribute memos, send emails, organize video conferences and utilize chat software apps.
Project management responsibilities
Managers are responsible for ensuring that projects reach completion on time and within budget. They establish timelines for projects and compile a list of all tasks involved in the project. Then, they delegate work to team members, ensuring each one understands their duties. Once the project is underway, they monitor progress and review work for accuracy and thoroughness. Managers also ensure that the team meets all project milestones and modifies project plans as needed.
Employee development responsibilities
Managers are responsible for helping employees be effective in their own roles, grow in their positions and develop their skills. They conduct individual coaching sessions and group training on topics related to performance and development. In addition, they evaluate employees on a regular basis. When disciplinary issues arise, they explore them with the employees involved, work to find solutions and encourage change.
Hiring responsibilities
Managers are responsible for keeping their teams fully staffed. When positions open, they work with HR to create job postings, screen candidates and conduct interviews. They aim to hire individuals with the necessary skills, experience and education to succeed in the available position. They often have the final say when selecting who to offer a job to. During the onboarding process, they provide the necessary training and support to put new hires on the path to success, and they often conduct evaluations 30, 60 and 90 days after hiring to help employees perform well in their roles.
Administrative responsibilities
Managers are responsible for completing administrative duties to comply with company policies and other regulations and for performing tasks that keep their departments running smoothly. Specifics vary but may include things like ordering supplies, filling out forms, completing schedules, signing off on requests, processing payroll and updating records.
Tips for establishing the roles and responsibilities of a manager
Ensuring that every supervisor in your organization understands the roles and responsibilities of a manager sets a company up for effective leadership. Follow these tips to define and communicate about the roles and responsibilities of manager positions.
Customize as much as possible
The roles and responsibilities of a manager described above are general. Use them as a starting point for your own list of managerial roles and responsibilities. Customize the roles and responsibilities with your company culture in mind. Integrate the terminology that you use on a daily basis and add or remove roles and responsibilities to fit your organizational needs.
Provide concrete examples
The role of the manager can feel abstract, so using real-world examples can aid in understanding. For example, you might describe a scenario about a time when a manager acts as an advocate. Consider using personal anecdotes from your own experience serving as a manager to foster a connection.
Rethink your job descriptions
Keeping the roles and responsibilities of a manager in mind, review your job descriptions and edit as needed. Accurate, detailed job descriptions set clear expectations for managers and give them a full appreciation of what their positions involve.
Coach to roles
During your coaching sessions, focus on each role of the manager. Give praise for what they’re doing well and provide constructive criticism about areas of improvement. Work together to come up with a plan to help managers better fulfill their various roles.
Modify evaluations
Ensure that your employee evaluations align fully with the roles and responsibilities of manager positions. Basing evaluations on all key roles and responsibilities can help managers become more well-rounded.
Encourage self-assessments
Ask managers to assess how well they’re fulfilling their roles and responsibilities on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. Provide a self-evaluation scoring sheet to guide them, and schedule a meeting to discuss the results.
Roles and responsibilities of a manager FAQs
What’s the difference between the roles and responsibilities of manager positions?
The roles and responsibilities of manager positions go hand-in-hand but aren’t the same. A role describes a manager’s position within a team. You can think of it as the various hats that a manager puts on during the course of the day. Responsibilities are the specific tasks and duties that managers complete while performing in their roles.
Can the role of the manager change?
The role of the manager largely remains the same over time. However, managers may find that they need to focus on one particular role to respond to the needs of their teams and their employers. For example, a manager might need to act mainly as a project manager when approaching a deadline, or they may need to prioritize their role as a recruiter in response to the creation of new positions due to an expansion.
What traits can help a leader fulfill the responsibilities of managers?
Certain traits can help supervisors fulfill the roles and responsibilities of manager positions. For example, a good manager should be approachable and motivating. Good managers can also uphold standards, talk honestly to employees about their performance and be able to discipline when needed. Communication and interpersonal skills are also vital to the success of managers.
