Since its publication in 1981 Meredith Belbin’s book, Management Teams: Why they succeed or fail, has been shaping teams, from adding a ‘Plant’ to lacklustre producers, or injecting a ‘Shaper’ to the team that crumbles under pressure.
It gives managers something visceral to consider when trying to shape a team perfect for their organisation. Not every role needs filling in every team obviously, but when a team lacks in an area it can be difficult to define exactly what kind of person could turn it around.
Most people possess characteristics of more than one of the Belbin roles and generally the top two or three traits are considered for each individual. Occasionally an individual possesses only one defining trait, for example Belbin himself is a ‘Super Plant’.
Below I have listed the Belbin team roles. Consider the people in your team and yourself (perhaps think about getting someone else to confirm your roles, as self image can differ,) as you read through and see how your team shapes up.
Plant:
A creative, imaginative, unorthodox team member who solves problems. They sometimes situate themselves far from the other team members.
Resource Investigator:
The networker for the group. Being highly driven to make connections with people, the Resource Investigator may appear to be flighty and inconsistent, but their ability to call on their connections can be invaluable to the team.
Co-ordinator:
The Co-ordinator seeks fairness and equality among team members. Those who want to make quickly or unilaterally may feel frustrated by their insistence on consulting all the team members, but this can often improve the quality of the decisions made.
Shaper:
A dynamic team member who loves a challenge and thrives on pressure. This team member possesses the drive an courage required to overcome obstacles.
Monitor Evaluator:
A strategic and discerning member, who tries to see all options and judge accurately. This team member contributes a measured and dispassionate analysis and, through objectivity, stops the team committing itself to a misguided task.
Team Worker:
Someone who seeks to ensure that interpersonal relationships in the team are maintained. This concern with people factors can frustrate those who are keen to move quickly, but their skills help long-term cohesion within the team.
Implementer:
The practical thinker who can create systems and processes that will produce what the team wants. They may frustrate other team members by their perceived lack of enthusiasm for inspiring visions and radical thinking, but their ability to turn radical ideas into workable solutions is important.
Complete Finisher:
The detail person within the team. Others may be frustrated by their analytical and meticulous approach, but the work of the Complete Finisher ensures the quality and timeliness of the output of the team.
Specialist:
Teams often also include a Specialist, someone who brings expert knowledge and/or experience to the team.
I’ve asked around the office, and I agree, that I’m a Shaper-Implementer (specialist) and my immediate team consists of a Complete Finisher-Monitor Evaluator and a Complete Finisher-Resource Investigator-Co-ordinator. I believe this makes us very grounded team with great eye for detail and good all round performance, but maybe for our next addition we should look for someone with Plant tendencies to shake us up a little.
So certainly recruit by qualifications and skills, but it would certainly be worth bearing in mind Belbin’s roles, then you might just build that holy grail; The perfect team.
