1. Some of the strongest teams are made up of very different characters
Belbin Team Roles
Some of the strongest teams are made up of very different characters

2. Belbin Team Roles Coordinator Plant Team Worker
+ Keeps the team focused
- May seem aloof from team
Plant
+ Creative/Absent Minded
- “World of
their own”
Team Worker
+ Soothes the team
- Can be indecisive

3. Belbin Team Roles Resource Investigator Implementer Specialist
+ Optimistic, outgoing, networker
- Gets bored quickly
Implementer
+ Organiser, practical
Inflexible, resistant to change
Specialist
+ Expert
- Narrow focus

4. Belbin Team Roles Monitor Evaluator Completer Finisher Shaper
+ Analyses everything
- Glass half empty
Completer Finisher
+ High standards/Contracts
- Can’t let it go, smallest detail
Shaper
+ Drives/Takes Action
- Do it my way, even if it upsets people

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. Balancing Conformity and Deviance
Too much deviance and
a lack of conformity
result in low performance
because the group cannot
control its members behaviour
Good balance
results in
high performance
Too much conformity and
a lack of deviance
result in low performance
because the group fails
to change dysfunctional behaviour

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