The Seventeen Managerial Roles
A role is an expected set of activities or behaviors stemming from one's job. Roles are
another important way of understanding managerial work.
A. Planning:
The two planning roles are strategic (long-range and high-level) planner and operational
(day-by-day) planner.
B. Organizing and Staffing:
Five roles fit the organizing function: organizer, liaison, staffing coordinator, resource
allocation, and task delegator.
C. Leading
:
Eight roles are part of the leadership function: motivator and coach, figurehead,
spokesperson, negotiator, team builder, team player, technical problem solver, and
entrepreneur.
D. Controlling:
The monitoring role is virtually identical to controlling. The disturbance handler role can
also be classified as a controlling role because it brings disruptions back in line.
E. Managerial Roles Currently Emphasized:
Managerial work has shifted substantially away from the controller and director role to
that of coach, facilitator, and supporter. Many managers today work as partners with
team members to jointly achieve results.
F. The Influence of Management Level on Managerial Roles:
A manager's level of responsibility influences which roles he or she is likely to engage in
most frequently. For example, the most important roles for top-level managers are
liaison, spokesperson, figurehead, and strategic planner
Continue to the next page.
