There is an interesting book by Meredith Belbin on team dynamics and roles – “Management Teams: Why they succeed or fail.” I have not yet had the opportunity to read through the whole text, but in the book its explained that in a team there are 9 roles. Let me paraphrase those and perhaps you might find yourself in one of these –
1. the Plant – original thinkers, generate new ideas, offer solutions to problems, think radically in different ways, lateral, imaginative
2. Resource Investigator – are creative, like to take ideas and run with them, extrovert, popular
3. Coordinator – highly disciplined and controlled, focus on objectives, unify a team
4. Shaper – achievement orientated, like to be challenged and get results
5. Monitor Evaluator – they analyze, balance and weigh situations, they are calm, detached, objective thinkers
6. Team Worker – supportive and cooperative, make good diplomats because they only want what best for the team
7. Implementer – good organization skills, display common sense, like to get the job done
8. Completer – check details, tidy up after themselves, are very conscientious of whats happening
9. Specialist – dedicated to acquiring a special skill, extremely professional, have the drive and dedication
If you are a leader, can you think of who matches what in your team based on above? How about with your peers. Can you match where you fit into the pictures?
So what exactly is a team then and how can it be more effective?
To me, a team is a group what all the members focus on a collective target. A team does not function well when every individual member is pulling in a different direction and focusing on their own targets regardless of what that may be – personal progress, getting to the end of the day, dealing with your (their) boss, etc. I have been fortunate enough in my corporate environment, despite certain issues, to have just that. A team. Individuals who want personal progression, but at the same time are willing to say “we” and “us” more than “I” and “me”. You’ll know what a team is and I surely do when people say “Its OK, we are all in this together” (reference to first paragraph above). And you’ll know when you have a team when the team tells you it is a team.