1

Belbin Team Roles

Some of the strongest teams are made up of very different characters

2

Belbin Team Roles

Coordinator+ Keeps the team focused- May seem aloof from team

Team Worker+ Soothes the team- Can be indecisive

Plant+ Creative/Absent Minded- “World of their own”

3

Belbin Team Roles

Resource Investigator+ Optimistic, outgoing, networker- Gets bored quickly

Implementer+ Organiser, practical-Inflexible, resistant to change

Specialist+ Expert- Narrow focus

4

Belbin Team Roles

Shaper+ Drives/Takes Action- Do it my way, even if it upsets people

Monitor Evaluator+ Analyses everything- Glass half empty

Completer Finisher+ High standards/Contracts- Can’t let it go, smallest detail

5

Key Points from Belbin

All these roles need to be present at some stage and appropriate to the task in hand

People can and do change roles

Need roles appropriate to content & process• “Words & Music”

6

GROUP THINK

Avoid outside opinions

Avoid controversial issues

Lack of questioning

Rationalise, despite the evidence

Pressurise ‘deviants’

Self-censorship if hold minority view

Silence = support

7

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Low Conformity/HighDeviance

ModerateConformity/Moderate

Deviance

High Conformity/LowDeviance

Te

am

Perf

orm

an

ce

Too much deviance anda lack of conformity

result in low performancebecause the group cannot

control its members behaviour

Good balanceresults in

high performance

Too much conformity anda lack of deviance

result in low performancebecause the group fails

to change dysfunctional behaviour

Balancing Conformity and Deviance

8

APOLLO TEAMS

High intellectual capability

Abortive & destructive debate

No coherence in decision making

Some tasks neglected

People act alone

Difficult to manage

Lack of coherent teamwork

9

THE PERFECT TEAM?

Respected Chairperson

Spread of mental ability

All team roles represented

Match the work and people

Recognise weaknesses and adjust

Question of balance

One strong plant only