The Dream Team...



Fusion PR logo.

 
When developing and delivering our Pitch to Bring The Beat Clothing, our group ethic and ability to complete our pitch to a high level lay dependent upon the combination of our behavioural characteristics. We call ourselves ‘Fusion PR’, and luckily for us, our group comprises of a diverse selection of team roles. Introducing the dream team!  

Myself- Team Worker

“Ability to respond to people and situations and to promote team spirit.”

Connie Brodribb- Resource Investigator

“A capacity for finding useful people and promising ideas or opportunities, and a general source of vitality.”

James Shippen- Plant

“Genius, imagination, intellect, knowledge”

Carla Leighton- Co-ordinator

“Welcomes all potential contributors on their merits and without prejudice, but without ever losing sight of the main objective.”

Chloe Mitchell- Completer Finisher

“A capacity for fulfilling their promises and working to the highest standards.”

In the name of an easy life, let’s assume my previous contradiction with Dr Belbin didn’t occur.  Now I have introduced the team, it’s important to see how well we worked together. In practise, I can safely say that I promoted team spirit, as my role suggests. Times occurred where we couldn’t find a computer in the library (with 3 floors of computer suites, it’s hard to believe I know!) Or times when we were all overloaded with deadlines. I think in times like these I acted as the uplifting ‘look on the bright side’ character. In my view, my behaviour complemented Chloe’s- our Completer Finisher. Although her role was invaluable to our team, Chloe had a tendency to worry about the small things. Whilst she motivated me, I calmed her down in situations where she could have otherwise escalated and got ‘stressed’- a word used far too often during a University hand-in period!

In practise, I found that my role as a Team Worker, and our Plant- James, were very similar. We both promoted team spirit. Call it a ‘laugh or cry’ situation, but we often found ourselves smiling when the computer froze- a situation where not everyone smiled. Let’s say our optimism shone through! Our chatty aura meant we often bounced ideas of each other, ideas that were eventually presented in our pitch. Luckily, our imaginations where capped by our Co-ordinator Carla. Although she welcomed and encouraged our often wacky ideas, she confidently never lost sight of our main goal. Belbin describes how the Co-ordinator ‘Welcomes all potential contributions, but without ever losing sight of the main objective’. This perfectly exemplifies Carla’s priceless role within Fusion PR.

But of course, what would we do without our trusty Resource Investigator Connie? Connie certainly does have a way with words. James- the Plant, and myself generated ideas that we understood, but where continuously stopped in our tracks by the same old question. How do we write that in words? And in a professional manner at that? Belbin describes Co-ordinators as ‘good communicators, both inside and outside the organisation’.  This described Connie's contributions perfectly. Connie helped the team collaborate ideas in an illustrative yet professional manner.  She had the ability to write in words what James and I had in our heads. This sought after characteristic was invaluable to us. 



Print screen on my formatting the Fusion PR logo.



During numerous group meetings, I found myself leading the creative roles. For example, I formatted our PowerPoint presentation, played around with fonts, colours and other tools and tricks. I found myself eager to take the content of our pitch and ‘make it look pretty’. My group seemed impressed with the technical knowledge that I had acquired using Microsoft PowerPoint, Macromedia Fireworks and various other software. It became assumed that my role would be to take the content and make it look professional. On reflection, maybe my Belbin team role should be Specialist? Belbin describes Specialists as ‘dedicated individuals who pride themselves on acquiring technical skills and specialist knowledge. Their priorities are to maintain professional standards and advance their own subject.’ I'm beginning to think that maybe this role is better suited to my behaviour, not only apparent from this assignment, but other group assignments too.

After using the Belbin test in practise, I am, yet again, contemplating its validity. I have realised that the combination of different team roles works well in presenting an entire spectrum of behaviours. However, I think a practical examination of how well people work together is more valuable than the results of the test. For example, I found myself taking the role of specialist more so than team worker. Hypothetically, if this is the case an organisation should realise this through a fictitious project during the recruitment stages. I think that Belbin’s behavioural team roles are useful, but the process in which the team roles are obtained should be altered to consider how participants behave practically, not just on paper.    

It seems Dr Belbin is baffling my brains once again!