🎯 The 3 Essential Roles Every Manager Must Master
A manager is not just an executor—they are a decision-maker, communicator, and relationship builder.
Based on Henry Mintzberg’s seminal research, the manager’s job breaks down into three role categories:
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Interpersonal Roles
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Informational Roles
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Decisional Roles
1️⃣ INTERPERSONAL ROLES – The Social Face of the Business
🔹 Figurehead:
Represent the company internally and externally.
📌 Example: The CEO of Peugeot attended the International Auto Show as the face of the brand in front of governments and suppliers.
🔹 Leader:
Motivate the team, manage performance, and set the tone.
📌 Example: Lee Iacocca rebuilt Chrysler from the brink of bankruptcy by reorganizing leadership, rebuilding union relationships, and securing federal loan guarantees.
🔹 Liaison:
Build cross-functional and external relationships.
📌 Example: Sheryl Sandberg (former COO of Facebook) was instrumental in forging alliances with advertisers and global institutions.
2️⃣ INFORMATIONAL ROLES – Managers as the Central Node of Intelligence
🔹 Monitor:
Track internal performance and external market trends.
📌 Example: Satya Nadella at Microsoft spent months analyzing market dynamics before pivoting to a full cloud-first strategy.
🔹 Disseminator:
Share key information with teams clearly and efficiently.
📌 Example: Airbnb’s CEO sent weekly transparent updates during COVID-19 to keep employees informed about major business shifts.
🔹 Spokesperson:
Speak on behalf of the company to media, partners, and public.
📌 Example: Elon Musk regularly addresses Tesla’s decisions and strategy publicly, shaping the company’s image in real time.
3️⃣ DECISIONAL ROLES – Managers as Strategic Operators
🔹 Entrepreneur:
Drive innovation and constant improvement.
📌 Example: Jacinda Ardern led New Zealand’s innovative COVID-19 response through fast action and adaptive policies.
🔹 Disturbance Handler:
Resolve crises and deal with the unexpected.
📌 Example: Tim Cook navigated Apple through post-COVID supply chain disruptions by re-prioritizing production and logistics.
🔹 Resource Allocator:
Decide how to use time, money, and talent.
📌 Example: Uber focused investment on high-growth markets like India and paused expansion elsewhere to optimize resource allocation.
🔹 Negotiator:
Lead internal and external negotiations.
📌 Example: Disney’s CEO negotiated landmark acquisitions of Marvel and Lucasfilm, transforming the company’s IP portfolio.
🧭 Final Note from Nada Nasri
A strong manager doesn’t wear one hat—they wear three hats, every single day:
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They lead people
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They process and share information
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They make hard decisions with limited time and resources
❗Failing to master these three roles limits your influence, weakens your results, and holds back organizational growth.
— Nada Nasri
Finance & Strategy Consultant
The CFO Mindset
