TASK AND MAINTENANCE ROLES OF TEAM MEMBERS
There are many roles that people perform in teams. Some of these relate to helping the team perform its tasks. Others
relate to maintaining the team and relationships among members.
Finally, there are dysfunctional roles that may hinder the team; behavior is directed toward personal rather than team
needs. Below is a list and brief description of different roles and functions performed in teams. Read each description and
choose one person in the team who fits this description. In other words, based upon your perception of the team, who
performs each function or role? A person may be nominated for more than one role, and you may nominate yourself.
TEAM TASK ROLES
INITIATOR/CONTRIBUTOR
proposes goals, new ideas, and solutions; defines problems;
suggests procedures; points out benefits
INFORMATION GIVER
offers facts and relevant information or experience
OPINION GIVER
states belief about alternatives; focuses on values rather
than facts
INFORMATION SEEKER
seeks clarification of suggestions based on facts relevant to
the problem
OPINION SEEKER
asks for clarification of values which the group holds in
relation to the problem
COORDINATOR
clarifies the various suggestions, ideas, and opinions and
coordinates them
SUMMARIZER
summarizes and restates back to the team; draw member's
activities together; offers conclusions
CLARIFIER/ELABORATOR
interprets; gives examples; defines terms; clears up
confusion or ambiguity
EVALUATOR
subjects the team's activity to some criterion, for example,
practicality, logic, etc.
ORIENTOR
tries to show the team the position it is now taking and may
raise questions about its direction
PROCEDURAL TECHNICIAN
performs routine tasks for the group such as
secretary/treasurer; timekeeper
ENERGIZER
stimulates the group to action leading to closure
TEAM MAINTENANCE ROLES
ENCOURAGER
praises good points, exhibits acceptance (the "we" feeling);
HARMONIZER
and group solidarity
attempts to mediate differences among members or their
points of view; reduces conflict and tension; attempts to
reconcile differences
GATEKEEPER/EXPEDITER
attempts to encourage communication, bringing persons into the
discussion who have not given their ideas, keeping the discussion
to the point, etc.
STANDARD SETTER
expresses standards for the group to attempt to achieve, and applies
them to evaluating the group process
COMPROMISER
is willing to compromise or yield his or her idea or point of view, or
admit an error
GROUP OBSERVER
keeps records of the group process in action and brings much data into the
discussion as seen pertinent
FOLLOWER
more or less a passive and accepting person; going along
with the ideas of others
DYSFUNCTIONAL SELF-ORIENTED ROLES
AGGRESSOR
may express disapproval of others, joke excessively, attack the
group or the problem, show envy, etc.
BLOCKER
is negativistic and resistant, disagreeing and opposing beyond
reasonable objections; getting discussion off on a tangent; focuses on
personal concerns rather than on team problem; argues too much
RECOGNITION SEEKER
tries to get attention; calls attention to self, boasts; loud or
unusual behavior; excessive talker
DOMINATOR
tries to assert authority to control team at expense of other members
AVOIDER
acts indifferently; withdraws from discussion; daydreams; wanders off,
talks to others; fools around
PLAYBOY/GIRL
does not involve self in group process, but sits back in horseplay,
whispering, etc.
SELF-CONFESSOR
HELP-SEEKER
this person brings in personal feelings, ideas, etc., not
pertinent nor oriented to the group
attempts to express insecurity, gain sympathy, or in other ways, deprecate
self
SPECIAL INTEREST PLEADER
within the group
expresses own biases or prejudices by pleading for the minority groups
OVERALL LEADERSHIP ROLES
TASKLEADER
person whose behavior contributed the most to accomplishing work
of the team
SOCIAL (MAINTENANCE) LEADER person whose behavior contributed most to building and maintaining
team relationships
SELF-ORIENTED LEADER
person whose behavior was directed toward meeting his or her own
needs; hindered or ignored team needs