Belbin Team Roles
• Score yourself on the above scale for the 9 Belbin
team roles
• Use your current team activity to assess
• Identify your top 3 roles
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Thought-Oriented Roles
Ideas are the engine of any organization. Those people who fill the 'Thought' roles
on a team are crucial to innovating and keeping the organization moving ahead.
Plant
• This is the creative person on the team, and the one who is always coming up
with the latest and greatest idea.
• While the 'plant' role is vital on a team, this person might not always understand
that some of their ideas aren't practical, and they won't necessarily work within
the constraints that they have been given as far as time line or budget.
© Professional Development 2015
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People-Oriented Roles
These are roles that people take on who are generally good communicators, and
enjoy working with others - either on the team, or from the outside.
Resource Investigator
• Taking on the role of resource investigator is something that a person will do
who is curious about new ideas and loves to think outside the box.
• This person is comfortable with communicating with people on and off the team
in order to get the answers and information that is needed.
© Professional Development 2015
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People-Oriented Roles
These are roles that people take on who are generally good communicators, and
enjoy working with others - either on the team, or from the outside.
Coordinator
• This person will take a leadership role within the team and be the person whom
everyone else on the team feels like they can talk to when problems come up.
• Even if the project is being overseen by a higher-ranking manager, most teams
need someone like this to step up and lead the day to day activities of the
group.
• Usually, this is a person that everyone on the team respects and will listen to.
© Professional Development 2015
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Action-Oriented Roles
Getting things done is what people who fall into this category are all about. Rather than
being the ones to talk and discuss, these are the people who would rather get down to
business and finish the job.
Shaper
• A shaper is someone who is going to take the lead on many projects and do their best
to extract the best possible performance from the team.
• The status quo isn't going to be good enough for this person, and they don't mind
being confrontational when necessary to see their vision come to life.
• While a team full of shapers could be in constant conflict, having at least a couple on
the team is great for motivation and innovation.
© Professional Development 2015
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Thought-Oriented Roles
Ideas are the engine of any organization. Those people who fill the 'Thought' roles
on a team are crucial to innovating and keeping the organization moving ahead.
Monitor-Evaluator
• It is probably best to think about this person as being one step away from a
'plant', in that they usually take the ideas that are generated within the team and
then put them to the practicality test.
• Some ideas are great, and some are just not feasible, and the Monitor-Evaluator
on the team will usually be the person to sort the good ideas from the others.
© Professional Development 2015
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People-Oriented Roles
These are roles that people take on who are generally good communicators, and
enjoy working with others - either on the team, or from the outside.
Team Worker
• A team worker holds the group together, and is willing to sacrifice personal
achievement or accomplishment for the better good of the team.
• Every good team will have at least a few people who fall into this category,
although too many 'team players' on one team could be a bad thing as the
team might lack the strong leadership needed to make decisions.
© Professional Development 2015
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Action-Oriented Roles
Getting things done is what people who fall into this category are all about. Rather
than being the ones to talk and discuss, these are the people who would rather get
down to business and finish the job.
Implementer
• Once there are ideas and plans in place, the implementer wants to get right to
work bringing them to life.
• Communication might not be the strength of someone who fills this role, but
they are absolutely essential to reaching milestones and completing projects.
• This person usually enjoys the challenge of the process, and will be detail-
oriented in getting their job done right.
© Professional Development 2015
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Action-Oriented Roles
Getting things done is what people who fall into this category are all about. Rather
than being the ones to talk and discuss, these are the people who would rather get
down to business and finish the job.
Completer-Finisher
• Concerned with the small details at the end of a project
• Deadlines usually serve as strong motivation for this personality type, and
others on the team may not appreciate their level of worry over getting
everything done in a timely manner.
• However, a detail-oriented person is invaluable when it comes to confirming the
quality of the work that is being completed.
© Professional Development 2015
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Thought-Oriented Roles
Ideas are the engine of any organization. Those people who fill the 'Thought' roles
on a team are crucial to innovating and keeping the organization moving ahead.
Specialist
• As the name would indicate, this is a person who has a specific skill set that
plays a crucial role within the team.
• When something comes up that falls within their area of expertise they are
ready to jump into action and take the lead.
• While specialization is their strength, that in turn limits their versatility and
usefulness to the team when their particular skill is not in demand.
© Professional Development 2015
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