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I served as a Reconnaissance Marine during my military service. This means that I was assigned to a six-person team whose mission was to collect intelligence and share it back to our central command. I enjoyed the glamorous aspects of parachuting, snorkeling, and dangling under a helicopter as it whisked us away from the operation.
It’s the teamwork that sticks with me most all these years later, however.
As a forward-deployed team, we had to be relatively independent. We carried our food, water, radios, and munitions. These were not camping trips—we had work to do.
Each of us was assigned a primary role including navigation, security, and equipment checks. Role clarity allowed us to move stealthily and effectively as one.
Imagine my surprise when I transitioned to civilian life. Too many teams experience communication issues, challenges with decision making, or “boundary clashes.” Without clear roles and responsibilities, team performance and employee engagement both suffer.
In project management circles, a RACI chart offers help. This acronym stands for Responsible, Accountable, Informed, and Consulted. These are the roles assigned to a given individual or group (in the case of C and I) for each required deliverable or activity.
In talent optimization terms,
