This summer, we're sharing a short series of articles exploring one of the most influential models in team development - Belbin’s Team Roles. Following the recent passing of Dr. Meredith Belbin earlier this year at the age of 98, this series aims to highlight the ongoing relevance of his work and the practical value it still offers to teams today.

There’s plenty of debate around using different team building models. We believe these tools are can be helpful as a jumping off point rather than a strict rulebook.

Who was Belbin?

Dr. Meredith Belbin was a British researcher, best known for his work on team behaviour. In the 1970s, he led a study at Henley Management College which looked at what makes teams successful. His research identified nine different roles that people naturally take on when working with others. These aren’t job titles, but patterns of behaviour that help teams perform at their best.

For team leaders, Belbin’s model is a useful way to understand the mix of roles. It can help with building balanced teams, assigning responsibilities and improving how people work together. The aim isn’t to label people but to make it easier to spot what each person brings and where there may be gaps.

Action-oriented roles

This first article in the series looks at the action-oriented roles. These are the roles that focus on getting things done.

1. Shaper - Shapers bring energy and drive. They enjoy a challenge and often push the team to keep moving forward. They’re not afraid to question others and help maintain a sense of urgency and purpose.
2. Implementer - Implementers are practical and reliable. They’re good at turning ideas into workable plans and making sure tasks are completed in a structured way. They’re often the ones who bring stability to the group.
3. Completer Finisher - Completer Finishers are thorough and detail-focused. They take pride in delivering high-quality work and are good at spotting small errors others may miss. They’re especially valuable when accuracy and standards matter.

Our team building experiences are designed to suit a variety of roles and personalities. If you’d like to learn more or talk through what might work best for your team, contact us.