The Eight Types

of Team Players
“The strength of the
team is each individual.
The strength of each
individual is their team.”
Have you ever wondered why some teams excel while others seem
to fail miserably? It is because not all teams are created equal. Team
members tend to behave, contribute, and interact with others in
particular ways when working as part of the team or group.

Organizations should therefore create teams that are effective and

well-balanced by identifying specific roles that people should adapt.
Well-balanced teams are more likely to perform better than
unbalanced teams. Why is that? It is because balanced teams involve
people who can adapt to varied roles.

2 The Eight Types of Team Players | 2

Balanced teams tend to be more effective than unbalanced teams –
that is, teams that include people who adapt varied team roles are
likely to perform better. Furthermore, people may have more than one
preferred team role. The role they adapt will depend partly on the
composition of the team.

In this guide, we have listed 8 main

types or roles that people are likely
to adapt when working as part of a
team.

This guide will also be helpful

and useful for understanding and
considering personality when forming
new teams, evaluating why a team
may be underperforming, exploring
the strengths and weaknesses of
existing teams, and matching team
members to tasks. Plus, we have also
put together several global leaders
and the team type they are most
recognized for.

3 The Eight Types of Team Players | 3

8 TYPES OF TEAM PLAYERS
AND THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
 1. Innovator
Innovators thrive on opportunities to display creativity and will be the
first to propose new ways of doing things. These individuals are free
thinking and imaginative, but dislike being constrained and may
sometimes generate impractical ideas. Innovators prefer to leave the
finer details to others.

Strengths:
Creative, imaginative, free-thinking, generates ideas
and solves difficult problems.

 
Weaknesses:
Might ignore incidentals, and may be too preoccupied
to communicate effectively.

Don't be surprised to find that:

They could be absent-minded or forgetful.

STEVE JOBS, Apple 5

source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/05/02/the-7-innovation-secrets-of-steve-jobs/ The Eight Types of Team Players | 5
 2. Social Investigator
Social investigators are sociable and outgoing individuals with
investigative tendencies. These individuals are ideally suited to
investigate ideas and locate the human resources required to develop
them further. Social investigators are excellent networkers and adept
communicators, using these skills to convince others of the
importance of a project and guide them to share their knowledge.

Strengths:
Outgoing, enthusiastic. Explores opportunities and
develops contacts.

Weaknesses:
Might be over-optimistic, and can lose interest once
the initial enthusiasm has passed.

Don't be surprised to find that:

They might forget to follow up on a lead.

HOWARD SCHULTZ, Starbucks 6

source: https://news.starbucks.com/contact/leadership/howard-schultz The Eight Types of Team Players | 6
 3. Appraiser
Appraisers tend to be highly analytical individuals, and are suited to
evaluate ideas and make critical, unbiased judgement on the
effectiveness of these ideas. These individuals can come across as
detached, but provide a useful and critical viewpoint on projects.
Appraisers are also very useful at analyzing problems and making
suggestions.

Strengths:
Sober, strategic and discerning. Sees all options
and judges accurately.

Weaknesses:
Sometimes lacks the drive and ability to inspire
others and can be overly critical.
 

Don't be surprised to find that:

They could be slow to come to decisions.

BILL GATES, Microsoft 7

source: http://www.caldwellpartners.com/what-traits-are-key-for-successful-leadership-part-two/ The Eight Types of Team Players | 7
 4. Orchestrator
Orchestrators are excellent at directing a team, without coming across
as domineering. These natural leaders are capable of guiding others
towards their tasks, dealing with objections, and gaining the respect of
the team. Orchestrators understand the strengths and weaknesses of
their team members and assign tasks to maximize the strengths. They
are also seen as consultative and supportive in team situations.

Strengths:
Mature, confident, identifies talent. Clarifies goals.

Weaknesses:
Can be seen as manipulative and might offload their
own share of the work.
 

Don't be surprised to find that:

They might over-delegate, leaving themselves little
work to do.

JEFF WEINER, LinkedIn :

source: http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-ceo-jeff-weiner-on-leadership-2016-3
8 The Eight Types of Team Players | 8
 5. Initiator
Initiators are practical and efficient individuals who are excellent at
taking plans and implementing them. These individuals enjoy
collaboration and are capable of managing subordinates. Initiators tend
to work best with clear requirements and are comfortable working with
detail. These individuals prefer proven ideas and methodology and may
sometimes be viewed as inflexible.

Strengths:
Practical, reliable, efficient. Turns ideas into actions
and organizes work that needs to be done.
 

Weaknesses:
Can be a bit inflexible and slow to respond to new
possibilities.

 
Don't be surprised to find that:
They might be slow to relinquish their plans in favor
of positive changes.

MARK ZUCKERBERG, Facebook 9

source: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/02/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-successful-entrepreneurs-share-3-traits.html The Eight Types of Team Players | 9
 6. Finisher
Finishers are highly conscientious workers who thrive on seeing tasks
through to completion. These individuals prefer to work on one task at a
time, and enjoy being involved with the finer details of a project. Taking a
systematic and orderly approach to completing projects, finishers like to
work towards clearly defined goals with definitive starts and finishes and
with little ambiguity. Finishers do not enjoy distractions and may
demonstrate some signs of strain when under pressure.

Strengths:
Painstaking, conscientious, anxious. Searches out
errors. Polishes and perfects..

 
Weaknesses:
Can be inclined to worry unduly, and reluctant to
delegate.
 

Don't be surprised to find that:

They could be accused of taking their perfectionism
to extremes.

LARRY PAGE, Google 10

source: http://fortune.com/2011/04/18/what-would-larry-page-do-leadership-lessons-from-googles-doyen/ The Eight Types of Team Players | 10
 7. Collaborator
Collaborators are the key to successful team projects. These
individuals thrive on collaboration, and are open and helpful in team
situations. Acting to calm outbreaks in team situations these
cooperative and caring individuals will work to reduce tension so that
tasks can be completed.

Strengths:
Co-operative, perceptive and diplomatic. Listens and
averts friction.

Weaknesses:
Can be indecisive in crunch situations and tends to
avoid confrontation.
 

Don't be surprised to find that:

They might be hesitant to make unpopular decisions.

MARK PARKER, Nike 11

source: http://www.boothco.com/360-feedback-resources/leadership-style-nikes-ceo-mark-parker/ The Eight Types of Team Players | 11
 8. Driver
Drivers are very goal-focused and are constantly striving to achieve
their targets. These individuals are excellent at overcoming obstacles
and avoiding distractions. Drivers tend to be very action-oriented and
driven. They tend to shake up teams that are suffering from a lack of
drive, but they have the potential to cause disruption in teams that are
already motivated.

Strengths:
Challenging, dynamic, thrives on pressure. Has the
drive and courage to overcome obstacles.
 

Weaknesses:
Can be prone to provocation, and may sometimes
offend people's feelings..

Don't be surprised to find that:

They could risk becoming aggressive and
bad-humored in their attempts to get things done.

JEFF BEZOS, Amazon 12

source: http://fortune.com/2015/09/17/amazon-founder-ceo-jeff-bezos-skills/ The Eight Types of Team Players | 12
IN CONCLUSION
Each of the different roles or types have their own unique strengths
and weaknesses that they bring to a team. Understanding these
strengths and weaknesses can help you in developing a balanced
team of people. It will also assist with the recognition of potential
problems that may arise.

In deciding the responsibilities of each member, understanding

the roles that people naturally tend to take will be a great help.
Therefore, if you know which role each team member enjoys
fulfilling, it can assist you in providing your team members with
motivating tasks.

13 The Eight Types of Team Players | 13

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Source:
8 Types of Team Players - Strengths and Weaknesses:
http://www.belbin.com/about/belbin-team-roles/

Innovator - Plant
Social Investigator - Resource Investigator
Appraiser - Monitor Evaluator
Orchestrator - Co-ordinator
Initiator - Implementer
Finisher - Completer Finisher
Collaborator - Teamworker
Driver - Shaper
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