Open Menu

Overcoming org chart writer's block: Position Agreements

This is the second installment in helping you fully develop and implement Org Charts and Position Agreements (also known as Position Contracts), which support a culture of ownership within your business. Click here for Part 1.

Download the EMyth Roadmap

The three things people crave in a business are: Certainty, Unity and Stability.

  • Certainty enters when people know what you expect them to do.
  • Unity is established when you and your employees agree point-by-point.
  • Stability begins when you write it down and refer back to the agreement.

If you followed my previous blog post, you have a wall or space that displays all your business activities on sticky notes grouped under departments and by position. I know some of you want to frame the wall space and call it good, but sticky notes do not resemble certainty, unity or stability. So, let’s move to the next step: Position Agreements.

A Position Agreement (PA) between you and your employee identifies the activities and standards an employee agrees to use to gain a specific result when performing in that role. They acknowledge this understanding with their signature. When you sign, you are agreeing to support with training and resources. (Note that the bolded parts of this paragraph represent the sections of a PA.)

Many of my clients feel the power of this tool and, with that, they feel pressure to get the PA written as if it were the Magna Carta: They want it to be complete, correct and—by the way—it ought to be infused with the company vision, values, brand commitment, and why not the kitchen sink? Phew!

How about we start simple? Let’s just get the activities down. That alone will move you forward in gaining organization of your people. Here are some ways my clients have made a start. Pick the method that appeals most to you:

    • Collect the sticky note activities for each position and write the list on paper.
    • Have your employees write up their list of work activities in their own words.

Or...

  • Write up the list of activities as A Day in the Life of…

Let’s look at each one:

METHOD 1: Transcribing the sticky notes. You should be able to identify the Position Title, Manager’s Position and the Task List. You’ll want to make sure your employee understands each line item. You could go as far as having them initial each item, like a real estate contract. They should express that they can perform every task, or tell you what they need to do so.

METHOD 2: Have your employees write up their own task lists. Let them fill in their title, write their activities in their own words and explain them to you.

You’ll find out what your employees think of their role, who they are and what they do. In this case, you are the one who needs to be sure you understand each item. This can be a great source for rich conversations with your employees.

IMPORTANT: You are not off the hook. You need your own list of what you expect them to do, even if you keep it under the table. This helps you ensure the initial PA is suitable.

METHOD 3: When you or your employees aren’t sure how to start, ask the question “What does a typical day look like for this job?” Some roles work very well using a timeline. 

Just moving the activities to paper, whether it’s from your wall, your head or your employee’s head is a big change. Having the conversation allows you to make a start. You can run for 3-6 months on the strength of this “junior” Position Agreement. This is just the beginning to ensuring that your company and employees are clear on their roles and assignments. But starting with one of these methods will help you bridge the gap from your Org Chart, to your Position Agreements.

EMyth Team

Written by EMyth Team

We share free resources and stories from our clients, Coaches and team members about how to build a business that serves your life. Our posts will give you updates on our business insights and free educational content.

Comments