Article Belbin’s Balance - 9 Personality Types That Create Group Success - Part 3
In the previous article, I looked at the importance of having a balance of personality types within your team and the benefits that can be gained from finding such a balance as well as the drawbacks from having a team that lacks the right balance. To be able to understand Meredith Belbin’s 9 personality types in more depth, the next 4 articles will expand upon the characteristics of each of the individual personality types. With this knowledge in place, you should be better able to spot the characteristic within the members of your team and then use this knowledge to plan for effective grouping on projects or which pairings or grouping you should aim to avoid.
In the world of team dynamics, we often find ourselves thinking about how to bring out the best in each member. Belbin's nine personality types offer us a guide to understand and optimise these dynamics. This post explores one of these types - the Plant, and shares some insights on how to make them flourish within your team.
Meet the Plant
Picture your favourite leafy houseplant. The Plant personality type in our teams is just like that; they thrive in an environment that encourages the room to grow their ideas. They're the idea generators who help us see things from a different perspective. Plants are natural innovators, often the source of groundbreaking ideas that can take our teams in fruitful directions.Nurturing the Plant:
Provide fertile ground: To get the most from our Plant-type team members, we must create an environment that allows ideas to grow. During meetings, plan for brainstorming sessions and give them space to express their concepts. Remember, Plants thrive off acknowledgment and appreciation.
Water their ideas:
Just as plants need water to grow, Plants need feedback and support to flourish. Acknowledge their ideas and plan in time during meetings to offer this . By giving them constructive criticism, we help them refine their concepts into something amazing.
Cultivate collaboration:
Plants often work best when combined with other personalities. To harness their full potential, team them up with Implementers and Completer-Finishers, who can help bring their ideas to life with precision and attention to detail. This planned for teamwork can yield fantastic results for all involved.
Avoiding Weeds in the Garden:
Overwhelming pressure: Putting too much pressure on a Plant can lead to their creativity wilting. Avoid setting unrealistic deadlines or pushing them too hard. Give them the time they need to let their ideas come to fruition by working together to set reasonable timelines for action.
Ignoring their contributions:
Neglecting a Plant's ideas can make them feel like wilted flowers. Every idea, even the seemingly wild ones, should be acknowledged and considered. After all, it is their creativity that may lead to your company’s next big breakthrough.
Infertile Soil:
An environment lacking in creativity and innovation will not suit a Plant. Make sure the team culture nurtures these qualities. If we stifle their creativity, it won’t be long until they move on.
In conclusion, understanding and appreciating the Plant in our team is vital for our collective success. By providing them with the right conditions, nurturing their ideas, and promoting collaboration, we can watch our Plants blossom. The OurSails platform allows you to take private notes to ensure you notice the personality traits of each of your team members, which will help you to plan for success when meeting 1-1 with them or aligning your team for a project.
Next up, we unravel the Resource Investigator personality type, offering insights to amplify their contributions within our team.
Unveiling the Resource Investigator
The Resource Investigator within our team thrives on exploration and connecting with external resources. They're the enthusiastic networkers, brimming with ideas and adept at building bridges with the outside world. Resource Investigators are often the catalysts for fresh opportunities and expansive connections.Nurturing the Resource Investigator:
Cultivate Networking: To harness the full potential of Resource Investigators, nurture an environment that encourages networking opportunities. We should encourage their participation in external events to feed their hunger for new connections and ideas.
Sustain Enthusiasm: Resource Investigators tend to require continuous motivation to drive their enthusiasm. We do so by acknowledging their achievements and fueling their excitement by recognising their innovative approaches during team meetings.
Foster Collaborative Ventures: Resource Investigators thrive when they collaborate with others. Pair them strategically to yield an ideal mix of resourcefulness and effective implementation. Encourage them to carefully record their meeting outcomes so you can harness the information they uncover.
Avoiding Hurdles in the Exploration:
Restrictive Boundaries: Confining a Resource Investigator to a routine might diminish their potential. Allow them the freedom to explore and gather new ideas without imposing rigid boundaries, facilitating growth through their gregarious nature.
Underestimating their Input: Disregarding their constant inflow of ideas might stifle their motivation. Every suggestion, even if seemingly unconventional, should be acknowledged and evaluated. Valuing their ideas keeps their motivation and creativity at its peak.
Stagnant Environments: An unchanging work atmosphere can thwart a Resource Investigator's zeal. Foster a dynamic workplace that thrives on innovation to nourish their tireless quest for fresh ideas and connections.
Comprehending and leveraging the Resource Investigator within our team is pivotal for collective success. By fostering their networking opportunities, sustaining their enthusiasm, and enabling collaborative efforts, our teams can flourish with vibrant, interconnected capabilities. Using OurSails to recognise each team member's personality traits and to plan for successful one-on-one or group meetings can ensure your team is aligned for progress and will put you and your team on a course for success.
- Align to avoid confusion.
- Collaborate to avoid suspicion.
- Succeed without despair.