Belbin's team roles
Explanations > Preferences
> Belbin team roles
Belbin types |
Balanced teams | So
what?
These types (or 'roles') were defined by Dr. R. Meredith Belbin after studying teams at Henley
Management College.
Belbin roles
The Belbin roles and brief descriptions are:
|
Overall |
Belbin roles |
Description |
| Doing / acting |
Implementer |
Well-organized and predictable. Takes basic ideas and
makes them work in practice. Can be slow. |
| Shaper |
Lots of energy and action, challenging others to move
forwards. Can be insensitive. |
| Completer/Finisher |
Reliably sees things through to the end, ironing out the
wrinkles and ensuring everything works well. Can worry too much and not
trust others. |
| Thinking / problem-solving |
Plant |
Solves difficult problems with original and creative
ideas. Can be poor communicator and may ignore the details. |
| Monitor/Evaluator |
Sees the big picture. Thinks carefully and accurately
about things. May lack energy or ability to inspire others. |
| Specialist |
Has expert knowledge/skills in key areas and will solve
many problems here. Can be disinterested in
all other areas. |
| People / feelings |
Coordinator |
Respected leader who helps everyone focus on their task.
Can be seen as excessively controlling. |
| Team worker |
Cares for individuals and the team. Good listener and
works to resolve social problems. Can have problems making difficult
decisions. |
| Resource/investigator |
Explores new ideas and possibilities with energy and with
others. Good networker. Can be too optimistic and lose energy after the
initial flush. |
Note the linkage here to Head, hands and heart
preferences.
Another way of dividing them is:
|
Overall |
Belbin role |
| Leading |
Coordinator |
| Shaper |
| Doing |
Implementer |
| Completer/finisher |
| Thinking |
Monitor/Evaluator |
| Plant |
| Specialist |
| Socializing |
Resource/investigator |
| Team Worker |
Balanced teams
Teams work best when there is a balance of primary roles and when team
members know their roles, work to their strengths and actively manage
weaknesses.
- To achieve the best balance, there should be:
- One Co-ordinator or Shaper (not both) for leader
- A Plant to stimulate ideas
- A Monitor/evaluator to maintain honesty and clarity
- One or more Implementer, Team worker, Resource investigator or
Completer/finisher to make things happen
So what?
Identify types when starting up teams and ensure you have a good balance (or
handle the difference).
See also
Margerison-McCann Team Performance Wheel
http://www.belbin.com/belbin-team-roles.htm
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