Professional eTools
MBI Employee University eSource
Functional Team Roles
Every team needs two things if they are to be effective: The most obvious is…
ACTION: Task accomplishment, decision, results, getting stuff done, etc. The other is more
subtle…
MAINTENANCE: Maintaining the relationships and feelings of the team; a sense of
belonging, of contributing, of being valued, heard, respected and understood.
Each member of the team can play a vital role in moving the group forward (action) or ensuring that productive
interaction takes place (maintenance). Below are a number of pre-defined roles that can either be assigned or
adopted by members in an effort to stay productive.
Task Roles: These roles help promote task accomplishment
Initiator
Information
Seeker / Giver
Opinion Seeker /
Giver
Elaborator
Coordinator
Evaluator
Energizer /
Orienter
Procedural
technician
Recorder
Decision Maker
(Consensus
Builder)
One who suggests new goals/ideas for the group to
consider
One who senses what information (facts / data) are
needed and clarifies what others have provided
Done well the team will generate many
diverse goals and ideas
Done well the group will have accurate
information on which to base decisions.
One who clarifies the values of the group by providing
their own opinion and seeking opinions of others.
Done well the group will have a clear sense
of what each one values and believes.
One who promotes understanding by elaborating on
what has already been stated.
One who pulls together diverse ideas in order to point
out similarities and differences.
One who evaluated ideas, accomplishments and
decisions critically—ready to protect what is good and
point out what is not good.
One who prods the group to move forward. One who
keeps the group headed toward it’s stated goal(s).
Done well the group will listen to and
understand fully each one’s contribution.
Done well the group will have richer
understanding and a broader perspective.
Done well bad ideas will be caught & good
ideas protected for the right reasons.
One who performs routine duties to ensure important
details are covered.
Done well the group won’t miss any crucial
step (approvals, deadlines, forms, etc.)
One who performs the “group memory” function… so
that “verbal” progress is not lost.
One who states out loud a decision that needs to be
made. This does not imply the authority to make a
decision, but to simply state one and test the group for
consensus. At times, acts as a tie breaker.
Done well no idea or decision will be lost,
the group won’t lose “traction”.
Done well the group will reach decisions
quickly and accurately, it will act when
appropriate and not lose time due to
indecision.
Done well no time will be wasted, the
energy level will remain high and focused.
Maintenance Roles: These roles help maintain group process and interaction.
Compromiser
One who mediates conflicts when they become
evident.
One who attempts to meet others halfway in
an effort to define appropriate compromises.
Standard
setter/
Commentator
One who evaluates and comments on team
processes, informs the group of whether or not
it is on task, on time, on agenda, in order, etc.
Done well good team behavior is recognized and
reinforced positively. (What gets rewarded gets
repeated.)
Done well the group will be able to work through
potential conflicts without damage to relationships.
Done well necessary compromises (give and take)
will be identified and worked out. (This is distinct
from consensus)
Done well the group will report high satisfaction with
process, will avoid rabbit trails and stay on task until
complete.
Gate keeper
One who encourages participation especially
on the part of those who are verbally
withholding. May also include pointing out
dominant behavior on the part of some.
Done well each one will report high satisfaction with
their level of participation… no one will be
overlooked or marginalized, no one will dominate
and control the outcome.
Encourager
Harmonizer
One who is accepting and praising of good
performance and effort when displayed.
POINT OF ACTION:
Though it may seem artificial, try assigning some of these roles to members of the team during an
important meeting. It will energize the group and promote productive meeting behavior!
Team Roles – adapted from classic team theory, 1950’s. By Keith Hadley, Moody Bible Institute
3/9/2016