We have designed our ideal Accountability Chart for our exit strategy, but due to budget constraints, one person must temporarily occupy both the Sales Manager and Marketing Manager seats. How do we keep these roles distinct so we do not end up with a messy hybrid seat?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

It is acceptable for one person to sit in multiple seats on your Accountability Chart temporarily, especially when managing cash flow before an exit. However, you must keep the seats completely separate on the chart. Do not merge them into a single, confusing Sales and Marketing Manager seat.

To keep these roles distinct, design each seat with its own unique five major roles. The Sales Manager seat is accountable for hitting revenue targets and managing the sales pipeline. The Marketing Manager seat is accountable for lead generation and brand consistency.

When the individual is working, they must consciously wear the correct hat. In your Level 10 Meeting, they must report on the measurables and Rocks for both seats separately. If they are failing to hit their numbers, you must IDS the issue to determine which seat is suffering.

By keeping the seats visually and operationally separate on the Accountability Chart, you show potential buyers exactly where your organizational gaps are. When the budget allows or the business scales, you can easily hire a new person to take over one of those pre-defined seats without having to redesign your entire organizational structure.