Born 1926

Dr Meredith Belbin is a widely respected expert and adviser on organisations and teams. He is best known for his team-role theory enabling better understanding of the roles played by team members and how team interactions can be adjusted to increase team effectiveness.

The Belbin Team-Role Theory

The team–role theory was based on extensive research and observation of managers. From this, 9 successful clusters of behaviour were identified.

3 Action oriented team roles – Shaper, Implementer and Completer Finisher

3 People oriented team roles – Co-ordinator, Teamworker and Resource Investigator

3 Cerebral oriented team roles – Plant, Monitor Evaluator and Specialist.

By using Belbin’s questionnaires or specialised software, team’s can find out their behavioural tendencies and adjust roles, behaviours or members accordingly.

By Lyndsay Swinton
Owner, Management for the Rest of Us
www.mftrou.com