Team Member Styles

Team Member Styles:What notes are you playing?

Dianne Rees (based on the work of Glenn Parker in Team Players and Teamwork: New Strategies for Developing Successful Collaboration)

communicatorcollaborator

challengercontributor

Do you know these people? Are they on your team?

contributor

responsible

authoritative

organized

high standards

I think we really need to focus…

Strengths

Less productive when…

There’s too much information.

I may not see the big picture..

I’m pushing my team mates too hard.

I’m too much of a perfectionist

collaborator

flexible

imaginative

forward-looking

goal-directed

So here’s the big picture….

Strengths

Less productive when…

I’ve overcommitted!

My focus is too global.

I haven’t reviewed the mission.

I don’t think about the needs of other team memberspitches in

communicator

supportive

enthusiastic

relaxed

considerate

What do you all think?

Strengths

Less productive when…

I won’t challenge you— I want us to get along!

I’m all about the process—goals may slip.

I may overuse humor.

I may seem manipulative or placating.tactful

challenger

questioning

thorough

outspoken

honest

Why are we doing this?

Strengths

Less productive when…

I don’t know when to back off.

I may push the team to take too many risks.

I can be self-righteous

I become too much of a nit-picker.adventurous

communicatorcollaborator

challengercontributor

It takes all four of these people to make a good team

communicatorcollaborator

challengercontributor

But people are complex…

communicatorcollaborator

challengercontributor

You may have more than one style…

The adaptable team member

Optimize your strengths and minimize the traits that make you less productive

The adaptable team member

Like how someone else works with others?

Borrow their behaviors!

It takes different instruments to make a great band! See diversity as the thing that makes your team shine

Reference:

Parker, G. M. (1996). Team Players and Teamwork: New Strategies for Developing Successful Collaboration. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.