What is your Role in the Team?

What is your Role in the Team?

We all work in teams or groups from time to time.

Think of a time when you have felt pleased about something you have accomplished as part of a team or similar group of people.

This might be at work or in an educational setting, something to do with sport or leisure, or even a family activity.

For example have you ever been involved in organising a wedding? It’s not something you can do on your own.

Whatever the situation you have in mind, think about what you brought to the team that helped. Was it a talent for getting the best out of others, were you the one who spotted details that needed taking care of, or was your contribution more about coming up with ideas than carrying them out?

Now consider the team roles Belbin outlines. The nine roles can be simplified into three overall categories: thinking-oriented, action-oriented and people-oriented.

Which category would you place yourself in with regard to the situation you thought of? Are you a thinker, a man or woman of action, or a people person?

Don’t forget that some people (including yourself) can carry out more than one role, and that some teams (depending on the task) do not need someone to carry out every role.

But having a clear idea of what you can offer when working in a team can help you identify the kind of strengths you can talk about with confidence when networking.

Additional Resources:

Asana - Team Roles: 9 Types to Create a Balanced Team: https://asana.com/resources/team-roles - This Asana resource dives into the nine core team roles (e.g., Resource Investigator, Implementer) and how they contribute to a balanced team dynamic.

Patrick Lencioni - The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Five+Dysfunctions+of+a+Team%3A+Facilitator%27s+Guide+Set+Deluxe%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781118176740 - Author Patrick Lencioni outlines the five main dysfunctions that hinder teamwork and provides guidance on overcoming them. While not directly focused on individual roles, this book offers valuable insights for understanding how different roles contribute to a cohesive team.

Harvard Business Review - Building High-Performing Teams: https://www.quantumworkplace.com/future-of-work/characteristics-of-high-performing-teams - Harvard Business Review offers a comprehensive article on building high-performing teams. It emphasizes the importance of understanding individual roles and aligning them with team goals.

SHRM - How to Identify and Develop Your Strengths as a Team Member: https://www.shrm.org/ - The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) provides resources on identifying and developing individual strengths within a team. Understanding your strengths helps you determine your ideal role within a team.

Belbin Team Roles - Belbin Institute: https://www.belbin.com/about/belbin-team-roles - The Belbin Institute explores Dr. Meredith Belbin's Team Roles theory, which categorizes people into nine different team roles (e.g., Plant, Shaper, Monitor Evaluator). Understanding these roles can help individuals and teams function more effectively.

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Management June 30, 2017