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

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

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

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

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”

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

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

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

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