Belbin Team Roles

Cluster of Behavior

Team Role

Strengths - Contributions

Allowable Weaknesses

Action-oriented roles

Shaper

The shaper is a task-focused leader who abounds in nervous energy, who has a high motivation to achieve and for whom winning is the name of the game. The shaper is committed to achieving ends and will ‘shape’ others into achieving the aims of the team.

He or she will challenge, argue or disagree and will display aggression in the pursuit of goal achievement. Two or three shapers in a group can lead to conflict, aggravation and in-fighting.

Implementer

Implementers are aware of external obligations and are disciplined, conscientious and have a good self-image. They tend to be tough-minded and practical, trusting and tolerant, respecting established traditions. They are characterized by low anxiety and tend to work for the team in a practical, realistic way. Implementers figure prominently in positions of responsibility in larger organizations. They tend to do the jobs that others do not want to do and do them well: for example, disciplining employees.

Completer Finisher

The completer finisher gives attention to detail, aims to complete and to do so thoroughly. They make steady effort and are consistent in their work. They are not so interested in the glamour of spectacular success.

People-oriented roles

Chairman

(1981)

Co-ordinator (1988)

The coordinator is a person-oriented leader. This person is trusting, accepting, dominant and is committed to team goals and objectives. The coordinator is a positive thinker who approves of goal attainment, struggle and effort in others. The coordinator is someone tolerant enough always to listen to others, but strong enough to reject their advice.

May not stand out in a team and usually does not have a sharp intellect.

Teamworker

Team workers make helpful interventions to avert potential friction and enable difficult characters within the team to use their skills to positive ends. They tend to keep team spirit up and allow other members to contribute effectively. Their diplomatic skills together with their sense of humor are assets to a team. They tend to have skills in listening, coping with awkward people and to be sociable, sensitive and people oriented.

They tend to be indecisive in moments of crisis and reluctant to do things that might hurt others.

Resource Investigator

The resource investigator is the executive who is never in his room, and if he is, he is on the telephone. The resource investigator is someone who explores opportunities and develops contacts. Resource investigators are good negotiators who probe others for information and support and pick up other’s ideas and develop them. They are characterized by sociability and enthusiasm and are good at liaison work and exploring resources outside the group.

Is usually not the source of original ideas.

Cerebral (thinking and problem-solving) roles

Plant

The plant is a specialist idea maker characterized by high IQ and introversion while also being dominant and original. The plant tends to take radical approaches to team functioning and problems. Plants are more concerned with major issues than with details.

Tendency to disregard practical details and to argumentativeness.

Monitor Evaluator

According to the model, this is a judicious, prudent, intelligent person with a low need to achieve. Monitor evaluators contribute particularly at times of crucial decision making because they are capable of evaluating competing proposals. The monitor evaluator is not deflected by emotional arguments, is serious minded, tends to be slow in coming to a decision because of a need to think things over. He takes pride in never being wrong.

May appear dry and boring or even over-critical. Those in high level appointments are often monitor evaluators.

Specialist (1988)

They are often highly introverted and anxious and tend to be self-starting, dedicated and committed.

Single-mindedness and a lack of interest in other peoples’ subjects.