The Role Clarity Gap: How Jobs Need to Change as Businesses Grow by Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill

As businesses grow, roles change. But too often, the role plan does not change with them.

In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene and Kate Waterfall Hill explore why role clarity becomes more important, not less, as people become more senior.

The bigger the role, the more expensive ambiguity becomes. Senior leaders are expected to make decisions, delegate effectively, develop teams and shape the direction of the business, but many are still working from an outdated or incomplete idea of what their role actually is.

Adam and Kate get practical:

Why senior people need clear role plans just as much as junior staffWhy the CEO’s role should evolve as the business growsHow unclear responsibilities create confusion across the wider teamWhy people sometimes plateau because the business has not defined the next version of their roleHow to distinguish between comfort, stretch and panicWhy role plans should focus on outcomes, not just tasksHow to use a simple keep, start, stop and develop frameworkWhy role plans should be reviewed regularly rather than written once and forgotten

They also explore the idea of the S-curve and what happens when someone stops growing in a role. Sometimes the answer is not promotion. Sometimes it is a new challenge, clearer expectations or a different curve altogether.

This episode is for founders, managers and leadership teams who want to create clearer roles, better progression and stronger accountability as their business grows.

🎙️ Behind the SME is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene. In Season 2, Adam is joined by leadership coach and author Kate Waterfall Hill to explore the leadership challenges behind growing businesses.

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