Rolesexplaining

Rolesexplaining is a practice in which the roles of participants in a group or project are explicitly explained and clarified to ensure shared understanding. The approach is neutral and descriptive rather than prescriptive, and it can be applied in teams, classrooms, volunteer organizations, and cross-functional projects to prevent ambiguity about who does what and how people collaborate.

Typically, rolesexplaining involves identifying all roles involved, outlining core responsibilities, decision rights, interfaces with other roles, and expected timelines. It can be conducted through facilitated sessions, written role descriptions, and lightweight tools such as role cards or simple RACI-like mappings. The process yields a collaborative document and a short briefing where each participant describes their role and answers questions.

The intended outcomes include clearer accountability, smoother handoffs, faster onboarding, and reduced conflict over scope. It also supports performance evaluation by linking tasks to roles. In practice, rolesexplaining is revisited periodically as projects evolve, new roles emerge, or workloads shift.

Challenges include maintaining accuracy in dynamic environments, preventing information overload, and ensuring inclusive participation. Effective facilitation, accessible language, and lightweight governance help. Where roles overlap, teams may define collaboration rules or decision thresholds to avoid duplication or gaps.

Related concepts include job design, RACI matrices, team charters, and onboarding practices. While not a formal standard, rolesexplaining can be a practical tool for organizing collaboration and improving mutual understanding within groups.