Staffing decisions can seriously affect a practice’s performance and the satisfaction levels of workers and management, a US financial planning dealer group has warned.

Practices should create an organisational chart and consider which people should fill which roles to provide the required service, Fox Financial Planning Network’s report on integrated practices says.

This may require management and staff to cover multiple positions, but will also identify gaps in the organisation.

“Principals should keep in mind that specific tasks not well-suited to current members of the staff can potentially be outsourced,” CEO Deborah Fox said.

“Tasks assigned to staff members that do not fall into their natural or developed skill sets can end up demotivating them and reduce their level of work satisfaction.”

It can be harder for smaller practices to define who does what, because often each person has more than one responsibility, Ms Fox, one of the best-known advisers in the US, says.

The key is matching people’s skills to the right tasks.

“This will improve productivity, efficiency and the overall working environment, since staff members will be more likely happy with their job,” she said.