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Career Development - Test Two - What is your team role?

This test is designed to help you identify your preferred team. It should take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

How do you behave, contribute and interrelate with others when part of a team? We all have natural tendencies in our workplace. Determining your team role can help you in your career planning and personal development decisions. Your can use this information to find the environment you need to thrive and work out how best to work with colleagues. If all of your team members take the test, it also enables you to work out your whole team’s strengths and weaknesses and can be invaluable in team development activities.

The role we take on when part of a team has been defined by Dr. Meredith Belbin as "Our tendency to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular way". We all have natural tendencies in workplace activities.

Determining your team role preferences can help you in your career planning and personal development decisions. The team roles specified for you will reflect the behaviours and attitudes that you tend to adopt within a work team. However, it is important to keep in mind that your behaviour in a team is not determined solely by your preferences - there are other factors at play. These include:

  • The role you are expected to play by your boss/employer
  • The demands of the job
  • The roles played by other team members, and a need to compensate for what the team lacks
  • Your training or education
  • The work environment

Most people can and do assume each team role, to some degree. However, there are a few team roles that come to us more naturally. No matter what roles you tend to fill, each role is important and has its own strengths and weaknesses. How do you behave, contribute and interrelate with others when part of a team? We all have natural tendencies in our workplace. Determining your team role can help you in your career planning and personal development decisions. Your can use this information to find the environment you need to thrive and work out how best to work with colleagues. If all of your team take the test, it also enables you to work out your whole team’s strengths and weaknesses and can be invaluable in team development activities.

To determine your team roles, read the following questions and answer as you would, should you find yourself in such situations.

Answer the questions below and then click submit.

For Part One of the test, please indicate whether the statement is true or false for you. Please rate each statement as follows:

5 - Completely true
4 - Mostly true
3 - Somewhat true and somewhat false
2 - Mostly false
1 - Completely false

Part One

1. I tend to produce lots of new and original ideas.
5 4 3 2 1

2. I like to evaluate all the options and enjoy establishing priorities.
5 4 3 2 1

3. I make sure that decisions are made and that the ideas are put into practice.
5 4 3 2 1

4. I enjoy bringing in new ideas from outside the team and from other people.
5 4 3 2 1

5. I like to make sure that everyone is contributing to the discussions and that no-one is being ignored.
5 4 3 2 1

6. I think it is better to take some time to make sure that the information is accurate and the decision is correct.
5 4 3 2 1

7. I like to make sure the plan will work and often forsee potential problems.
5 4 3 2 1

8. I like to check the detail and make sure that we haven’t missed anything.
5 4 3 2 1

9. I don’t mind challenging the “status quo” and trying out new and novel approaches.
5 4 3 2 1

10. I enjoy looking for new opportunities and testing how a new idea or service might work.
5 4 3 2 1

11. I am comfortable telling members of a team what needs to be done and who is best equipped to do it.
5 4 3 2 1

12. When my team has a problem, I tend to think of the people I can call upon to shed some light onto it.
5 4 3 2 1

13. It is very important to me that team members feel they are a valuable part of the group and I try to make sure that this is their experience.
5 4 3 2 1

14. I find it easy to present ideas and explain things in a way people can understand.
5 4 3 2 1

15. I question every idea, decision, and argument before agreeing to anything.
5 4 3 2 1

16. I need to have the final review of the project before it is handed over as complete.
5 4 3 2 1

17. I find it very easy to come up with new and innovative ideas.
5 4 3 2 1

18. I enjoy organizing new activities and bringing the team together.
5 4 3 2 1

19. I get irritated by delays before starting a group project and want to get going immediately.
5 4 3 2 1

20. I find it easy to see “the big picture” and get other people enthusiastic about it.
5 4 3 2 1

21. When in a group, I can sense a conflict developing and I take it upon myself to keep it from escalating.
5 4 3 2 1

22. I don’t like taking a lead role in a team but I enjoy supporting and helping the other team members.
5 4 3 2 1

23. I don’t tend to contribute many new ideas to the team but I am very good at evaluating other people’s ideas.
5 4 3 2 1

24. I take a real pride in a job well done.
5 4 3 2 1

Part Two - please click all that apply

25. As my team navigates through disagreement, I… (choose all that apply)

  • Consider the issues and suggest ideas, often out-of-the-box, that may steer us in the right direction.
  • Try to keep the team focused on our goal as members are heard and decisions are made.
  • Try to get members to make decisions rapidly so as to move on and complete the task at hand.
  • Seek outside advice if I see that it would benefit the team.
  • Try to keep everyone motivated and positive.
  • Listen to everyone's point of view and try to help settle the problem.
  • Wonder about the underlying reasons for the disagreement and suggested solutions/decisions.
  • Take steps to ensure that no-one rushes the decision and jeopardizes the quality of our work.

26. When I am selected to be part of a group, the reason is that… (choose all that apply)

  • I am an excellent and uninhibited brainstormer -helping members conjure up just about anything!
  • I am extremely well organized and enjoy coordinating.
  • I focus on the outcome of our task and stop at nothing before it is done.
  • I am a great resource person - I have a lot of useful contacts.
  • I have a knack for encouraging people and keeping up the team spirit.
  • I like to question everything and I am not easily influenced by the opinions of others.
  • I like to analyze and I propose good, solid, down-to-earth ideas.
  • I am a low maintenance worker; I do my job without needing constant praise and direction.
27. I contribute to my team by ... (choose all that apply)
  • Letting my imagination run wild.
  • Keeping informed on the progress of the group.
  • Putting my nose to the grindstone and getting things going.
  • Finding outside resources to help the group.
  • Maintaining harmony and diffusing conflict.
  • Doing my job and helping others in the group with their tasks.
  • Asking the hard questions and remaining objective.
  • Finding concrete solutions.

28. When a new idea is proposed in the middle of a project, how do you react? (choose all that apply)

  • The new idea is likely to open the floodgates to new thoughts on how to improve the outcome of the project.
  • I think of realistic ways we can go about implementing the new idea - how it will fit in with what's already been done, what the altered outcome will be etc.
  • I feel uncomfortable; I don't like changing the path to our goal in the middle of the process.
  • I start thinking of the people and places I can go to for help should we decide to implement the new idea.
  • I take it upon myself to make sure no conflicts arise.
  • I am enthusiastic and try to get everyone else motivated by the idea.
  • I take careful notes and pay attention to how the idea may affect our scheduling.
  • I am fine with it as long as it does not endanger the quality of our work.

29. When in a group meeting what is your typical contribution? (choose all that apply)

  • I play the role of devil's advocate.
  • I take notes, keep time, and make sure the focus of the meeting is maintained.
  • I propose ways in which we can start working sooner and with less wasted time.
  • I share knowledge and information I've gained from my outside contacts.
  • I make sure all the members of the team are heard and that no one is left out of the discussions.
  • I try to keep discussions positive and spirited.
  • I ensure that we have scheduled enough time to complete our project and arrange the plan for testing/quality assurance.
  • I provide realistic solutions to problems and issues that arise during the meeting.

 

For the avoidance of any confusion, this test is in no way connected with the Belbin Self Perception Inventory or Belbin Team Roles, the rights in which are solely owned by Belbin Associates. An individually tailored Team Role Report can be obtained directly from the Belbin Associates website at http://www.belbin.com for £30.

 

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