An end-of-year reflective exercise

The year is hurtling towards its end. Time for some reflection.

Here’s a new exercise for you. Grab a cup of tea, a mince pie, a pen and paper.

List all nine Belbin Team Roles. For each Team Role, think about when you’ve used it over the past year.

• How well did you contribute, and how could you have been more effective?
• When in this role, did you clash with others or did you find strategies to make the most out of each working relationship?
• Given the opportunity, how will you play the role in future?

My list starts like this:

Resource Investigator?– I haven’t had the chance to use my RI strengths as much as I’d like. Other priorities in the business have required me to bring different behaviours to the fore. Since this is my top Team Role, I have found this difficult at times.

In 2023, I plan to use this strength more – maybe I’ll start with a new webinar series? There haven’t been any clashes with others, as I haven’t really played this role… I want to liaise with Jill to work something out for next year?

Implementer?– this isn’t one of my strengths, it’s middling in my profile. However, owing to the company changes this year, I’ve had to implement procedure and policy. It’s been a year of sticking to the ‘to do’ list!

In 2023, I plan (hahaha) to delegate this to more suitable members of the team. I know I haven’t played this role as well as I might. My mind strays from the task at hand. If it’s needed in the future, I will take more breaks to fight off my RI tendencies to become bored easily.

Clashes? Unfortunately, Meredith has borne the brunt of my IMP behaviour – he prefers bouncing ideas off an RI. I must remember to buy him a Christmas present this year…

You get the gist – I don’t need to share how I fared for all nine!

This is a great exercise to use at any time of the year – after a project, for example.

The Suggested Work?Styles page of your Belbin report might come in handy – for how much of the year (or project) did you manage to play to your strengths?

Right, I’m off to find the highlighters, a flipchart and LinkedIn. For me, 2023 needs to be the year of the Resource Investigator.

Which Team Roles will you be using more next year?

Best wishes

Jo