What are clear roles?
A role clarifies who does what. According to team researchers Becky Beard, Eduardo Salas, and Scott Tannenbaum, “A role can be defined as a set of behaviors or activities that a person feels compelled to perform and is expected to perform—by themselves and others.” Roles become clearer through specific goals and by identifying the behaviors expected from each team member to achieve them.

Why are clear roles important?
They support transparent workloads, making it easier to discuss, adjust, or offer support. Clear roles with clear expectations are linked to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover. When roles are ambiguous or conflicting, we’re more likely to feel frustrated and stressed. But when they’re clearly defined, we can prioritize better and perform more effectively. Clear roles also help with sensitive discussions—like pay or performance. Being told “You haven’t met your role’s goals” is more constructive than “You haven’t done your best this year.” According to Scott Tannenbaum, clarifying roles is one of the most effective ways to strengthen a team.

Tips for doing role clarity exercises
You’re aiming for clarity on who is responsible for what. These exercises often involve active listening: How can each person contribute to the shared goal? What is their expertise? What’s most important? What’s motivating for them? What’s their workload like? Practice asking follow-up questions to better understand your colleagues’ situations.

You’ll know you’re doing well with Principle 2 when…
Everyone has clear goals and responsibilities, and clear expectations and priorities help each team member complete their most important tasks.