Team Roles and

Responsibilities

5 KEY TEAM ROLES

Team LeaderTeam Leader Team FacilitatorTeam Facilitator

Team RecorderTeam Recorder Time KeeperTime Keeper

Team MembersTeam Members

Like players, team members fill specific, Like players, team members fill specific,

defined rolesdefined roles

TEAM LEADER

Every Team Needs One!

Focusing team members on the purpose and task of the project;

Organizing the group, securing meeting space, resources and clearing organizational boundaries.

Working closely with the facilitator to create agendas, planning outcomes and ensuring next steps are assigned, etc.

Recognizing and celebrating accomplishments.

KEY ROLE OF A TEAM LEADER

FACILITATOR

� Keeps Everybody On Track

3 Primary Responsibilities

� Make things happen with ease.

� Help the group with the process.

� Help the group with the "how" decisions.

Makes things happen with ease...

� develop and manage the process for the team

� helping them to stay on track and proceed through ground rules

Helps the group with the process...

neutralizing potentially dominating people

a process reflecting the group's collective brain power

Helps the group with the "how"

decisions...

� skilled at using the tools and helping teams realize their potential

The job of the facilitator is to:

� Remind the team of its schedule.

� Bring to their attention options and consequences.

� Solicit input from everyone regarding the next move.

� Help redirect the team toward their new goal.

Remember this...

� The facilitator's role is to move the team through the process. Facilitators should avoid making decisions or offering opinions.

TEAM RECORDER

� Keeps Notes, Documents Decisions

�responsible for writing down

the team's key points, ideas

and decisions.

Some thoughts to consider:

The recorder is responsible for documenting the team's process, discussions, and decisions.

� Don't editorialize!

� Consider two recorders

� Be prepared & organized

Remember this...

Every good

team has a

good

recorder!

TIME KEEPER

� Minute by Minute...

�Monitor how long the team is taking to accomplish its tasks.

�Provide regular updates to the team on how well or poorly they are using their time.

�Collaborate with the team leader, facilitator and others to determine new time schedules if the agenda has to be adjusted.

Remember this...

Consider volunteering to assume timekeeper responsibilities at your next meeting. It's a good way to familiarize yourself with team functions.

TEAM MEMBERS

� Everyone Else!

Team members don't have

specific responsibilities, but

their participation is critical

to the team's success.

Team members must agree to:

� Be enthusiastic and committed to the team's purpose.

� Be honest and keep any confidential information behind closed doors.

� Share responsibility to rotate through other team roles like facilitator, recorder, and timekeeper.

Team members must agree to:

� Share knowledge and expertise and not withhold information.

� Ask questions, even seemingly "dumb" ones. Often the new perspective of "inexperienced" team members can provide insight.

Team members must agree to:

� Fulfill duties in between meetings.

� Respect the opinions and positions of others on the team, even if the person has an opposing view or different opinion.

INFORMAL ROLES:

Teams can have unofficial, informal roles too. Some are helpful and some are not so helpful.

Helpful Roles

� A knowledgeable subject matter expert who can clarify technical issues.

The Expert

Helpful Roles

Often, a "big picture" person who helps to Often, a "big picture" person who helps to

sum up items.sum up items.

The Summarizer

Helpful Roles

Experienced negotiators who can Experienced negotiators who can

help bring opposing views together.help bring opposing views together.

The Bridge Builder

Not Always Helpful Roles

Always telling jokes to the extent that others Always telling jokes to the extent that others

can't accomplish their goals.can't accomplish their goals.

The Joker

Not Always Helpful Roles

Hates to make decisions, or reach closure; Hates to make decisions, or reach closure;

always looking for more information or wants always looking for more information or wants

to "think things over a little bit."to "think things over a little bit."

The Blocker

Not Always Helpful Roles

Always busier, harder working and has more Always busier, harder working and has more

responsibilities than others.responsibilities than others.

The Busier Than Thou

Not Always Helpful Roles

If they aren't interrupting for some reason, If they aren't interrupting for some reason,

Disrupters like to hold side conversations or Disrupters like to hold side conversations or

generally disturb the group.generally disturb the group.

The Disrupter

Not Always Helpful Roles

Doesn't like to participate, rarely Doesn't like to participate, rarely

contributescontributes

The Loner

How to Handle the Not Always

Helpful Roles

� Set clear time limits for making decisions and remind people often of the time

� Clarify expectations

Remember this...

� Team members must commit to the success of the group and promise to participate.

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL!