Team work makes the dream work...

My recent posts have been a personal reflection of the issues involved with ‘Managing PR’. I have paid particular attention to The Belbin Team Roles, because I’m intrigued by the extent the roles are considered in a recruitment situation. It leads me to question whether the way a team works together is important at all. It is not just about meeting deadlines to a high level? Does the combination of Belbin Team Roles account for a successful team? And if I was a manager, would I consider the Belbin Roles during a recruitment situation?

I’m drawing my conclusions to these questions from the experience I had during a summer placement, and from the experience within Fusion PR. Firstly, when answering the question “What are the issues you have to manage at work?” I believe that time management is a paramount aspect that exemplifies a successful PR agency and team. Organising myself, and keeping consistent contact with a number of clients essential because it proves organisation, perfect planning, and keeps the client in the loop. Naturally, time management, budgeting, precise contracts and legalities, planning and creativity collectively are important issues to manage at work, however I feel that time management accounts for ‘the make or break’ of a successful team, and PR agency.

The validity of The Belbin Roles has formed the basis of my blogging archive, and an issue I feel strongly about. In theory, my role according to Dr Belbin was Team Worker. However, in practice I acquired the role of Specialist, using different software to generate creativity and make our pitch aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, if I was in the shoes of a manager, I would use The Belbin Test during recruitment, but in practise. I believe the results of the test on paper are different to how a candidate performs practically, and this must be accounted for. Once a definitive team role can be applied to the candidate after a practical assessment, then I feel Belbin’s theory of a successful team works well. The combination of specific behavioural characterises enables a team to collectively work successfully. The tricky bit is ensuring each candidate is accredited with the correct team role.

So how did Fusion PR get things done? We got things done Planning, time management, and a combination of different behavioural characteristics.

Any other thoughts of the validity of The Belbin Test, or anyone who agrees that a practical assessment would help to determine Belbin Roles, please let me know! The lack of practical assessment is an issue that I think heavily hinders what could be an internationally acclaimed recruitment and team development exercise.  

Like they say- team work makes the dream work!