It's not just about ego: job titles do matter

Accurate job titles provide a professional image and give credibility to customers, suppliers and other stakeholders, even if you are a small owner-managed business, says Peter Hughes.

- Peter Hughes

I had wasted almost the entire day talking to the wrong person at the fuel depot. As I explained to my wife at supper that night, the company had been charged for fuel we never received and billed for petrol when we had purchased diesel.

"I called to make an appointment to sort it out," I said, "and was put through to the 'accountant', who said he could help. I went to town to see him, and half an hour later he agreed with the errors, but said he didn't have the authority to make the corrections.

I would have to see his boss, who, unfortunately, was on leave! "I then discovered that this guy is actually a junior clerk, not the accountant at all. It's time we moved our account to another supplier!" Have you ever had a similar experience? Where someone's job title leads you to expect something that they cannot deliver? Job titles matter, and above all, they should clearly reflect the essence of each role, indicating the expertise and authority of each employee.

MANY OTHER ADVANTAGES

Apart from avoiding the confusion caused by a misleading job title, as in the example above, an accurate and well-thought-out job title will fill several other important functions in your organisation: 

• It clarifies the role of the incumbent