experiential training & coaching ltd designing winning teams
TRANSCRIPT
Designing Winning Teams
A delicate balancingoperation:
• Team-players• Technical
contribution• Team Roles
Belbin
Consider this ……
“Those who are organising and composing teams may usefully pay as much attention to a candidate’s ability to be a team-player as to any specialised technical ability they may possess.”
R Meredith Belbin
A Team-player
“Someone who readily finds a fitting part to play in the context of the team and always makes themselves useful”
R Meredith Belbin
What distinguishes a Team-player?
• Timing They can time their interventions
• Flexibility They can vary their role
• Self Restraint They limit their contributions thereby
creating roles for others
• Team goals above self This includes doing some of the jobs
that others deliberately avoid
Belbin
Team Composition: First Steps
1 Ask - what needs to be achieved? i.e. Define the objectives, outcomes and scope of the work
2 Determine if a team approach isthe most appropriate work method (vs individual, partnership, group)
3 Decide if the starting point for selection is to be functional roles or team roles
4 Look at both Team Roles, (use TR workstyles or combinations), and Functional Roles, starting with the key positions – not players
Team Composition: sequence in Casting
5. Determine if there are positions and/or players that are a key to success. e.g. the Guru, Ambassador, Relationship Manager
6. Select and compose the rest of the team with the appropriate
positions and players in mind. (casting: right people in right roles)
7. If a balanced team is not possible in selection, consider who will make team role sacrifices.
Composition - A Sequence
1. The Guru2. The Relationship
Manager3. The Ambassador4. The Challenger5. The Harmonist6. The Producer
Belbin
Composition – The Guru
Two types of Guru:
1. Designer, brains: typically creative or clever (PL)
2. Technical knowledge or expertise (SP)
Bring desire and their personal stylee.g. anxious, timid, territorial, brilliant, lazy, overactive, bold, mistake ridden,antagonist etc
Belbin
Composition – The Relationship Manager
Must be able to relateto and manage the Guru- coax, control, humour,
restrain, assist, drive, etc
Leads and manages both the project and the team
(CO, SH, RI) Belbin
Composition – The Ambassador
Manages the keyexternal relationships
Also uses networks &contacts to connect theteam with the big picturei.e. the wider organisation & marketplace
(RI, CO, TW, IMP)
Belbin
Composition – The Challenger
Challenges the Guru on fundamental issuesand puts forward alternative viewpoints
(ME, SH, PL, SP)
Belbin
Composition – The Harmonist
Holds the teamtogether.
Contributes proactivelyin the resolution of tension or conflict
(TW, IMP, CO)
Belbin
Composition – The Producer / Doer
Contributes strongly tothe core work that needsto be done. e.g. produces
through tasks, responsibilities and processes. Experience & expertise add value in this role.
(IMP, CF, TW, SP, ME)
Belbin
Team Composition– Sequencing
Select a small lead or core team
(3-6 people) for the following purposes
1. To produce a RFP for a customer
2. To deliver a project of work for a customer
3. To operate or run a customer contract
Use Team Role Workstyles or Paired Role combinations to
match your selections for each of the 6 sequence roles.