What are the different operational roles in small business?
OK, CREATIVES—LET'S DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF OPERATIONAL ROLES WITHIN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS!
As creative entrepreneurs, we know that running a successful business goes beyond the creative process itself. It takes a well-oiled operational machine to bring our artistic visions to life. So, let's explore some key operational roles that are critical to the success of a small creative business, along with the personalities, skills, and experience needed for each.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Personality & Skills: A natural leader who is calm under pressure, solution-focused, and thrives in chaos while bringing order. They excel in communication, problem-solving, and have a knack for understanding both the big picture and the finer details.
Experience: Look for someone with experience in operations or project management, ideally in creative or service-based industries. Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com is a bonus.
Why They’re Crucial: This person keeps your business humming. They oversee daily operations, manage schedules and resources, troubleshoot challenges, and act as the go-to for teams, clients, and vendors. Without them, your vision risks getting buried under inefficiency.
PROJECT MANAGER
Personality & Skills: The ultimate type-A personality—meticulously organized, detail-oriented, and a natural at juggling multiple priorities. They’re exceptional communicators and thrive on deadlines and deliverables.
Experience: Previous experience in project management is a must, with a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget. Knowledge of Gantt charts and time-tracking tools is helpful.
Why They’re Crucial: This is your “get sh*t done” person. They manage projects from start to finish, collaborating with clients and creative teams, setting timelines, allocating resources, and ensuring every project meets your high standards.
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING
Personality & Skills: Analytical and detail-driven with a love of numbers and spreadsheets. They’re also trustworthy, discreet, and proactive in offering financial insights.
Experience: Look for someone with a background in accounting or bookkeeping, preferably with experience in small businesses or creative industries. Familiarity with QuickBooks, Xero, or similar software is a plus.
Why They’re Crucial: Let’s face it—numbers matter. This role ensures your financial health by managing budgets, tracking expenses, handling invoicing, and keeping cash flow in check. Don’t let the lack of financial clarity sink your business before it has a chance to thrive!
HUMAN RESOURCES
Personality & Skills: Empathetic and approachable with excellent interpersonal skills. They should be organized, tactful, and skilled at handling sensitive conversations.
Experience: Previous HR experience is ideal, but someone with strong people management skills and knowledge of recruitment, onboarding, and compliance can be a great fit.
Why They’re Crucial: People are your greatest asset. This role handles hiring, onboarding, and employee engagement, ensuring your team feels supported and aligned with your company values. Often, this role starts as a part of the Operations Manager's responsibilities until your team grows.
IT AND TECHNOLOGY
Personality & Skills: Curious and tech-savvy, with the ability to explain complex tech concepts in plain language. They’re proactive problem-solvers who enjoy learning about the latest tools and systems.
Experience: Background in IT support, software implementation, or digital systems management. Certifications in relevant tools or platforms can be a bonus.
Why They’re Crucial: Your tech needs to work as hard as you do. This role ensures that your hardware, software, and digital tools are optimized, secure, and up to date—making your workflows smoother and your life easier.
MARKETING AND SALES
Personality & Skills: Outgoing and creative, with a flair for storytelling and branding. They should have a strategic mindset and an eye for data-driven decision-making.
Experience: Prior experience in marketing, social media management, or sales. They should know how to create strategies and implement campaigns using tools like Canva, Meta Ads, or HubSpot.
Why They’re Crucial: Visibility is everything. This role promotes your business, builds your brand, and ensures a steady stream of clients through well-crafted marketing strategies and relationship-building efforts.
Each of these operational roles plays a unique part in the success of your small creative business. But here’s the truth: you can’t wear every hat forever. If you find yourself playing ALL these roles, it’s time to bring in reinforcements.
Growth.
Sustainability.
Scaling.
Success.
None of these are possible if you’re drowning in the day-to-day.
Ready to delegate so you can get back to creating? At Fierce Decorum, we specialize in operational excellence. From project management to marketing support, we help creative entrepreneurs step out of the weeds and into their zone of genius. Let’s get your business running like the powerhouse it’s meant to be. Click here to schedule a consultation!
Your creative vision deserves a fierce team. Let’s make it happen!
