There's more to the roles we play in groups and teams than what's written down in job descriptions, or given to us by boss or team leader.
We've identified the key behavioural roles that have the greatest effect team dynamics, and wrapped them up in our Team Roles assessment.
Everyone plays more than one role - so what are yours?
Team Roles are the variable behaviours of the members of any group. And, how we play out our team roles is influenced strongly by situational factors. For example you might be the one who leads the action in team sports (maybe you're the captain) and yet your day to day job-specific roles might include administration, coordination and monitoring. We bet you'd be awesome at them all!
The point is, in every dynamic group, any one person might (in fact, does) contribute three or four roles, switching between them as the situation requires.
This assessment will help you to discover the roles you get to play in the context of a particular group - say, the core members of a disruptive startup, or the co-workers at a call centre.
Taking this assessment as a team exercise will show the interactions and balance of roles played by all members. It's a brilliant way to gather objective intel on gaps, overlaps and potential clash areas in every team!
Initiator
Shows who'll be the group's natural first movers, setting the direction and pace
Follower
Displays the preference for respecting competent leadership and keeping within the guiderails
Coordinator
Reports on the desire to influence team activities and timings and to encourage cooperation
Liaisor
Every team needs a link to something outside itself. That's your liaisor... is it you too?
Ideator
Displays preference for innovative thinking, passing on ideas and being open to other people's
Activator
This role is all about inspiring people to take action, reasoning with and appealing to the team's motivations
Censor
Shows the predisposition to act both as the group's conscience, and, as its devil's advocate
Supporter
Shows the degree to which we are focused on the success of others, whether actively or passively
Mediator
Mediators play a part in resolving differences in the team, seeing points of view without taking sides
Monitor
Indicates preference for checking progress against plan, pointing out gaps, suggesting fixes
Implementer
The ones who get it done? Careful! This role's dominance can suppress other roles' contributions
Administrator
Assesses preference for making sure things are done at the right time and in the right order
Whether by leading, following, coming up with fresh ideas or just getting on with the job, people contribute to groups through specific behaviours. In this post we discuss inputs from the twelve most pivotal team roles. More...