Belbin- The Team Role Company
The Nine Belbin Team Roles
What is a Belbin Team Role?
Dr Meredith Belbin defined a 'Team Role' as one of nine clusters of behavioural attributes identified by his research at Henley as being effective in order to facilitate team progress.
"The types of behaviour in which people engage are infinite. But the range of useful behaviours, which make an effective contribution to team performance, is finite. These behaviours are grouped into a set number of related clusters, to which the term Team Role is applied."
Dr Meredith Belbin | Team Roles at Work
Nine Belbin Team Roles
Meredith Belbin's research showed that the most successful teams were made up of a diverse mix of behaviours.
Not all behaviours are required at the same time - this depends on the objective of the team. And most of us can play more than one role well.
Belbin Team Roles provide the framework, theory and language that helps your teams work better together.
What are the nine Belbin Team Roles?
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The Social Roles - Resource Investigator, Teamworker, Co-ordinator
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The Thinking Roles - Plant, Monitor Evaluator, Specialist
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Task Roles - Shaper, Implementer, Completer Finisher
You can find more detail about each Belbin Team Role below.
You can find additional information on our Research page.
Read how Belbin is used by Legal & General
Legal & General used Belbin in their award winning talent development programme, helping participants understand their strengths, boost confidence and identify engaging career paths.
'Coffee is a Team Sport': How Belbin provided an understanding of natural talents to enable transformation
Caravela Coffee used Belbin Team Roles to support transformation of their Leadership Team to set them on a path to sustainable organisational change.
Whatever your objectives, we can help you use the Belbin framework, theory and language.
We've been working with teams for over 50 years. It's what we do.
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We can work with you and your teams through workshops and team coaching.
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We can train you via our Belbin Team Role Accreditation course so you have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work with your own teams.
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If you want to take it further, we have a certified Team Coaching programme, making you the team expert.
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The Belbin Individual and Team reports are fundamental. These reports are the building blocks for self-aware individuals and teams.
Speak to a Belbin expert about how your teams work and how behaviour impacts performance. On submission, one of our friendly team will get in touch within 24 hours. We look forward to meeting you!
Get in touch to book your free consultation
Designing High‑Performing Teams with Belbin
Because great teams don’t happen by accident.
In many organisations, teams are formed according to established structures, job roles and long‑standing working relationships.
While this approach is familiar, it may not always provide the optimal mix of strengths required for new projects, change initiatives or strategic challenges.
By focusing on Belbin Team Role strengths rather than hierarchy or job title, organisations can assemble teams that are better balanced, more collaborative and more capable of delivering results.
Some frequently asked questions
Do you need nine people in a team, each with a strength in each Belbin Team Role?
Although there are nine Belbin Team Roles, this doesn't mean that every team requires nine people.
Most people will have two or three Belbin Team Roles that they are most comfortable with, and this can change over time.
Each Belbin Team Role has strengths and weaknesses, and each role is equally important to the team's success.
To find out the Belbin Team Role strengths of individuals and teams, you need to use the Belbin reports.
Are all Team Roles needed at all times?
It's not always necessary to have all Team Roles working simultaneously. It's important to consider the team objectives, and then work out which tasks need to be undertaken. Once this has been done, discussions can take place regarding how and when each Belbin Team Role behaviour should be utilised.
Using the Belbin reports can give people a greater understanding of their strengths, which leads to more effective communication in the team.
Managers can put together great teams, enhance the performance of existing ones, and ensure that everyone feels that they are making a difference in the workplace.
Is Belbin a psychometric test?
No. Belbin measures behaviour, not personality and the Belbin test (the Belbin Self-Perception Inventory or SPI) does not have psychometric properties.
Whilst personality remains relatively fixed, behaviour can change depending on our job role, colleagues and environment.
Measuring behaviour allows us to draw on evidence from others in the team and to provide actionable insights on how to boost performance.
Are Team Roles personality types?
No, Team Roles are clusters of behaviour which are proven to boost team performance.
Read more about the differences between behaviour and personality.
Can Team Roles change over time?
Yes, because your Belbin Team Roles are a snapshot of our behaviour at work at a certain time. Behaviour can change according to a number of factors, including our job role, environment and the team surrounding us.
It is unusual for a preferred Team Role to become a least preferred role and vice versa, but it is common for manageable roles to be cultivated and come to the fore.
We recommend updating your Belbin Individual report throughout your career. Learn more about Belbin reports.
What about Belbin reliability and validity?
Belbin reliability is good across all Team Roles.
A series of independent, peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that Belbin has good convergent, discriminant and concordant validity.
However, it is important to note that reliability and validity are measures that pertain to psychometric tests, and the Belbin SPI does not have psychometric properties.
For more in-depth information, please read our comprehensive review, which includes information on administration, scoring, reliability, validity and bias.
Is there a free Belbin test?
No, there is no sanctioned self-scoring or free Belbin test available.
Any self-scoring questionnaire and grid is outdated.
We own the copyright and do not allow this to be reproduced in any form, even for educational purposes.
We take action against companies breaching our copyright, including educational institutions.
Is the Belbin test copyright?
Yes, the Self-Perception Inventory (and all other Belbin assessment questionnaires) are protected by our copyright.
We do not allow the SPI to be reproduced in any form and have taken action against hundreds of companies breaching our copyright. More about Belbin copyright.