Roles vs. Responsibilities

Discover the difference between roles and responsibilities on the Accountability Chart®️.

Written by Amanda Barfield

Updated at July 27th, 2024

Table of Contents

On The Accountability Chart®️, each seat has roles and responsibilities that can be tied to measurables. So, what is the difference between a role and responsibility? 

Roles

Roles are the functions of a seat in given situations. This encompasses a larger vision of how an individual contributes to the team.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities are the specific activities or obligations that individuals are held accountable for according to their roles. 

Examples

Roles and responsibilities usually occur in pairs, and measurables are typically tied to responsibilities, but exceptions exist. Below are a couple of examples to get you thinking about your seat.

Visionary

  • Role: Research and Development
  • Responsibilities: Creative roadmap for 1 product a month.
 
 

Head of Sales

  • Role: Turn qualified leads into customers.
  • Responsibilities: Develop, refine, and perfect sales strategy.
 
 

Head of Operations

  • Role: Deliver the final product on time and within requirements.
  • Responsibilities: Smooth barriers and maintain a strong communication strategy.