Belbin revisited...

"Ah, yes, Belbin," said someone we met recently, "I've done Belbin. I'm a fox." Now fox he may have been, but you won't find a fox in Belbin. A Resource Investigator, a Shaper, a Plant, yes - but a fox, no.

Belbin is one of those tools that has been around for so long that everyone thinks they know all about it... or think it's a bit old hat.

But we disagree.. if anything, Belbin is more relevant than ever in the 21st century.

Belbin facts

Belbin Team Profiling is a way of recognising the clusters of behaviour we all prefer to use when we work in teams. No one Team Role is better than any other, and in order for a team to succeed all roles need to be present.

Each team role has its own strengths and allowable weaknesses - so you don't have to be perfect after all!

Belbin Team Roles were recognised and formalised by Dr Meredith Belbin at Henley Management College in the 1960s.

Since then their use has spread all over the world to help teams resolve problems, recruit successfully, and perform exceptionally.

The practical part

Belbin Team Profiles are created when each individual member of a team completes a Self Perception Inventory (SPI) for themselves and an Observer Assessment for each colleague.

All it takes is 20 minutes per SPI and 5 minutes per Observer Assessment. These form the basis for Reports on individuals, working relationships and teams.

Getting the best from your Reports involved a Belbin accredited consultant who can help the team to explore results and plan actions.

And that's one of the great qualities of Belbin - it's not just information, it's a tool for transformation.

Where Belbin works

Belbin works equally well in teams that are troubled and in teams that are doing just fine. (After all, do you want to cope, or do you want to excel?)

It works in recruitment, to help find the right person, not just the right skills.

And maybe most important of all, Belbin works now, when the power of organisations is in the people, and in the relationships they build with each other and with clients.

So even if you think you know Belbin, now might be a good time to have another look.

Read more about Belbin Team Profiling here

Talk to us about your team by calling 020 8540 5544 or email us