If team members have similar weaknesses, the team as a whole may tend to have that weakness.

Teams can become unbalanced if all team members have similar styles of behavior or team roles. In this article and video, developed in association with, we'll explore each of the nine team roles and demonstrate how to use the model to harmonize your team.Ĭlick here to view a transcript of this video. Or perhaps one team member becomes frustrated because they disagree with the approach of someone else on the team.ĭr Meredith Belbin studied teamwork for many years, and he famously observed that people in teams tend to assume different 'team roles.' He defined a team role as 'a tendency to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular way,' and named nine such team roles that underlie team success. Perhaps others are not quite flexible enough, so things 'fall between the cracks.' Maybe someone who's valued for their expert input fails to see the wider picture. How often does this happen in the teams you work with? Perhaps some team members don't complete what you expect them to do.

Just as importantly, you'll see that every role needed to achieve the team's goal is being performed fully and well.īut often, despite clear roles and responsibilities, a team will fall short of its full potential. When a team is performing at its best, you'll usually find that each team member has clear responsibilities.

Belbin tests online