A SELF-PERCEPTION INVENTORY

BELBIN’S ROLES IN GROUPS

Directions
For each section distribute a total of 10 points among the sentences that you
think best describe your behaviour. These points may be distributed among
several sentences: in extreme cases they might be spread among all the
sentences or ten points may be given to a single sentence. Enter the points in
the Table on page3.

1 WHAT I BELIEVE I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A TEAM:

a) I think I can quickly see and take advantage of new opportunities.
b) I can work well with a very wide range of people. - 7
c) Producing ideas is one of my natural assets.
d) My ability rests on being able to draw people out whenever I detect they
have something of value to contribute to group objectives.
e) My capacity to follow through has much to do with my personal
effectiveness.
f) I am ready to face temporary unpopularity if it leads to worthwhile results
in the end. - 2
g) I can usually sense what is realistic and likely to work. - 1
h) I can offer a reasoned case for alternative courses of action without
introducing bias or prejudice.

2. IF I HAVE A POSSIBLE SHORTCOMING IN TEAMWORK IT COULD BE

THAT:
a) I am not at ease unless meetings are well structured and controlled and
generally well conducted. 1
b) I am inclined to be too generous towards others who have a valid
viewpoint that has not been given a proper airing. 2
c) I have a tendency to talk too much once the group gets on to new ideas.
d) My objective outlook makes it difficult for me to join in readily and
enthusiastically with colleagues.
e) I am sometimes seen as forceful and authoritarian if there is a need to get
things done.
f) I find it difficult to lead from the front, perhaps because I am
overresponsive to group atmosphere. 7
g) I am apt to get too caught up in ideas that occur to me and so lose track
of what is happening.
h) My colleagues tend to see me as worrying unnecessarily over detail and
the possibility that things may go wrong.

3. WHEN INVOLVED IN A PROJECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE:

a) I have an aptitude for influencing people without pressurising them.
b) My general vigilance prevents careless mistakes and omissions being
made.
c) I am ready to press for action to make sure that the meeting does not
waste time or lose sight of the main objective.
d) I can be counted on to contribute something original.
e) I am always ready to back a good suggestion in the common interest. 6
f) I am keen to look for the latest in new ideas and developments.
 g) I believe my capacity for judgement can help to bring about the right
decisions. 2
h) I can be relied upon to see that all essential work is organised.2

4. MY CHARACTERISTIC APPROACH TO GROUP WORK IS THAT:

a) I have a quiet interest in getting to know colleagues better. 2
b) I am not reluctant to challenge the views of others or to hold a minority
view myself. 2
c) I can usually find a line of argument to refute unsound propositions.
d) I think I have a talent for making things work once a plan has to be put
into operation. 2
e) I have a tendency to avoid the obvious and come out with the
unexpected.
f) I bring a touch of perfectionism to any job I undertake.
g) I am ready to make use of contacts outside the group itself. 2
h) While I am interested in all views I have no hesitation in making up my
mind once a decision has to be made. 2

5. I GAIN SATISFACTION IN A JOB BECAUSE:

a) I enjoy analysing situations and weighing up all the possible choices.
b) I am interested in finding practical solutions to problems.
c) I like to feel I am fostering good working relationships. 5
d) I can have a strong influence on decisions.
e) I can meet people who may have something different to offer.
f) I can get people to agree on a necessary course of action 5.
g) I feel in my element when I can give a task my full attention.
h) I like to find a field that stretches my imagination.

6. I AM SUDDENLY GIVEN A DIFFICULT TASK WITH LIMITED TIME AND

UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE:
a) I would feel like retiring to a corner to devise a way out of the impasse
before developing a line.
b) I would be ready to work with the person who showed the most positive
approach.
c) I would find some way of reducing the size of the task by establishing
what different individuals might best contribute. 4
d) My natural sense of urgency would help to ensure that we did not fall
behind schedule. 2
e) I believe I would keep cool and maintain my capacity to think straight.
f) I would retain a steadiness of purpose in spite of pressures. 2
g) I would be prepared to take a positive lead if I felt the group was making
progress.
h) I would open up discussions with a view to stimulating new thoughts and
getting something moving. 2

7. WITH REFERENCE TO THE PROBLEMS TO WHICH I AM SUBJECT IN

WORKING GROUPS:
a) I am apt to show my impatience with those who are obstructing progress.
b) Others may criticise me for being too analytical and insufficiently intuitive.
c) My desire to ensure that work is properly done can hold up proceedings.
d) I tend to get bored rather easily and rely on one or two stimulating
members to spark me off. 2
 e) I find it difficult to get started unless the goals are clear. 4
f) I am sometimes poor at explaining and clarifying complex points that
occur to me. 4
g) I am conscious of demanding of others things I cannot do myself.
h) I hesitate to get my points across when I run up against real opposition.

SELF PERCEPTION INVENTORY ANALYSIS SHEET

Transpose the scores taken from the questionnaire entering them section by
section in the table below. Then add up the points in each column to give a
team-role distribution score.

Section IM CO SH PL RI ME TW CF
1 g1 d f2 c a h b 7 e
2 a 1 B2 e g c d f7 h
3 h 2 a c d f g E6 b
2
4 d 2 H b e g2 c A f
2 2 2
5 b f 5 d H e a C5 g
6 f 2 c g A h 2 e b d 2
4
7 e4 g a f 4 d2 b h c
TOTAL 12 13 4 4 6 2 27 2

Check your scores for each team role in the norm table below to determine
the strength of your role preferences.

Low 0- Average High 66- Very High Average

32% 33-65% 84% 85-100% score

IM 0-6 7-11 12-16 17-23 10

CO 0-6 7-10 11-13 14-18 8.8

SH 0-8 9-13 14-17 18-36 11.6

PL 0-4 5-8 9-12 13-29 7.3

RI 0-6 7-9 10-11 12-21 7.8

ME 0-6 7-9 10-12 13-19 8.2

 TW 0-8 9-12 13-16 17-25 10.9

CF 0-3 4-6 7-9 10-17 5.5

Brief Role Descriptions

Team Role Team Contribution Weaknesses

IM Implementer Disciplined, reliable, conservative Somewhat inflexible, slow

in habits, good at taking practical to respond to new
steps and actions possibilities

Co-ordinator
CO Mature, confident, clarifies goals, Can be seen as
brings others together, promotes manipulative, offloads
team discussions personal work

SH Shaper Challenging, dynamic, thrives on Prone to provocation,

pressure, has the drive and liable to offend others
courage to overcome obstacles

PL Plant Creative, imaginative, Ignores incidentals, too

unorthodox, solves difficult preoccupied with own
problems thoughts to communicate
effectively

RI Resource Extrovert, enthusiastic, Over-optimistic, can lose

Investigator communicative, explores interest once initial
opportunities, develops contacts enthusiasm has passed

ME Monitor Serious minded, strategic and Can lack drive and the
Evaluator discerning, sees all options, ability to inspire others
judges accurately
TW Team Worker Co-operative, mild, perceptive and Indecisive in crunch
diplomatic, listens, builds, averts situations
friction

CF Completer Painstaking, conscientious, Inclined to worry unduly,

Finisher anxious, searches out omissions reluctant to let others into
and errors, delivers on time own job