Motivational

Rule 26: Know your role

August 9, 2016

Ex-Nigerian Minisiter of Sports & Youth Development, Bolaji Abdulahi

What
is your role? I know you are there to do
a job, carry out a function, perform certain tasks, follow set procedures, and
all that. But what is your role? This is
a bit like setting a game plan. A game
plan outlines what sort of working person you are going to be. A role is what sort of facilitator you will
be. Will you be an ideas’ person? A moderator? A communicator? A diplomat? A task master? A motivator?
Basically your role is how you fit into the team – and yes, we are all
team players, we have to be in this day and age.

Dr. Meredith Belbin has spent over 20 years researching
the nature of team work in order to improve people’s strengths. He has
identified nine distinct team roles:

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·
The Plant – original thinkers;
they generate new ideas; they offer solutions to problems; they think in
radically different ways, laterally, imaginative.

·
The Resource Investigator – creative; they
like to take ideas and run with them, they are extrovert and popular.

·
The Co-ordinator – highly disciplined
and controlled; they can focus on objectives; they unify a team.

·
The Shaper – they are very
achievement orientated; they like to be challenged and to get results.

“BASICALLY
YOUR ROLE IS HOW YOU FIT INTO THE TEAM – AND YES, WE ARE ALL TEAM PLAYERS, WE HAVE
TO BE IN THIS DAY AND AGE”.

·
The Monitor Evaluator – they analyze and
balance and weigh; they are calm and detached; they are objective thinkers

·
The Team Worker – they are
supportive and co-operative; they make good diplomats as they only want what is
best for the team.

·
The Implementer – they have good organizational
skills; they display common sense; they like to get the job done.

·
The Completer – they check
details; they tidy up after them; they are painstakingly conscientious.

·
The Specialist – they are dedicated
to acquiring a specialized skill; they are extremely professional; they have
drive and dedication.

So
which are you? What role do you play in
the team? Are you happy with your
role? Can you change it?

(Excerpts from THE
RULES OF WORK by Richard Templer Read “How to know Your Strengths and Weaknesses” from The Rules tomorrow on Asabeafrika)

Rule-to-Work Series