IDENTIFYING ROLES
PROPERLY IDENTIFYING THE IDEAL ROLE AN INDIVIDUAL IS BEST SUITED FOR
INCREASES COMPATIBILITY, FOSTERS ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASES JOB SATISFACTION.
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Understanding the ten Teamability Roles is helpful in many ways. Knowing how each Role type needs to be acknowledged is vital to motivation, increasing engagement, and fostering feelings of fulfillment. Organizations will experience less friction amongst employees, see greater productivity and experience less attrition — because when employees are happy, they work harder, work smarter and stick around.
THE FOUNDER
Defining the
Founder
A Founder is someone who can be so inspiring to their peers that followers insist on the Founder's leadership. One way or another, Founders inspire others to follow them. Founders are often known to launch many organizations, clubs and movements. They may have been elected into leadership roles, or asked to be the spokesperson for an organization, etc.
The Founder
at Work
Founders are often seen as ‘born leaders.’ They can make great managers and executives if they learn to depend on their team as they work towards a defined Vision, and understand how each Role needs to be acknowledged. Founders like to be in a position of authority and thrive in when given the opportunity to lead others in new, creative, or innovative ways. Many Founders are also comfortable in positions that call for connection-making, such as in fundraising or politics.
Acknowledging the
Founder
The best Founders don’t need to be acknowledged on a personal level. The ideal Founder thwarts attention from him/herself and onto the goal. For example, a states-person focuses on the bigger picture, and the greater good they’re working towards. Similarly, an outstanding Founder wants the spotlight on accomplishments that move the organization forward as it works towards its defined Vision.
Defining the
Vision Mover
The Vision Mover
at Work
Acknowledging the
Vision Mover
Vision Movers are hard-driving, assertive, forceful people who have no real wish to be the one in the spotlight, but instead prefer to work behind the scenes. They don’t want to do the work themselves but want to direct other people to do it. Their special contribution isn’t in setting the goals, but in determining the best way to accomplish them. Vision Movers don’t always get along with Founders, but once they establish loyalty—they’ll work hard at achieving their goals.
Vision Movers shine at tasks that require forcefulness, plentiful ideas, and long-range thinking. They are planners, more than doers—and may lack organization and follow-through. Think of Vision Movers as lieutenants rather than generals. They can make excellent managers if they have an action-oriented team that follows the plan. They don't always get along well with other Vision Movers as they tend to fall into power struggles easily. Most Vision Movers work well alone and with others as long as their direction is followed.
Vision Movers tend to be authoritarian and hierarchical. They work well in a military-style atmosphere, and able to take orders and issue them. They can be persuaded by logic and reason, and are not overly concerned with agreement and approvals from others. They feel acknowledged when others do as they've been instructed. Vision Movers are at their best when working with Vision Formers.
Defining the
Vision Former
The Vision Former
at Work
Acknowledging the
Vision Former
Vision Formers have a genuine concern for others. They focus on what they think is best for people, not necessarily what others want. Vision Formers are not passive evaluators, but focus on behavior and ethical standards. They are inclined to actively work to make the right things happen in the right way, and to enlighten others to perform their best. Vision Formers are high-level organizers who enjoy bringing people together and helping them adjust to one other to maximize productivity.
Vision Formers are particularly apt at ensuring long-term plans are carried out properly. They contribute two things to the team: First, they can help to evaluate plans and foresee consequences particularly well. Second, they can bring people together to accomplish goals. The best Vision Formers can pinpoint what isn’t working and find viable solutions. Vision Formers are particularly valuable in positions where they can serve as monitors of organizational compliance and ensure that it is adhering to its set standards.
A Vision Former thrives when their advice and actions are acknowledged often and with considerable formality. They can be sticklers for proper protocol, not because it flatters them but because they believe it is the foundation for good human relations. When Vision Formers don't feel appreciated, they are likely to withdraw their support and allow others around then to fail. They do not expect blind obedience, but do take offense when their direction is ignored. Vision Formers are at their best when working with Vision Movers.
Defining the
Action Mover
The Action Mover
at Work
Acknowledging the
Action Mover
The Action Mover will appear to be eternally busy. Generally, they are active learners and are always ready to lend a hand and serve the team in any way they can. The Action Mover tends to prefer thinking in the short-term rather than engaging in long-term planning, and so can depended upon when it’s critical to get something accomplished fairly soon.
Action Movers think about their customer, not just profits and therefore can make superlative salespeople for complex products. They embrace the responsibilities that go into business development and shine as day-to-day managers for short-term rather than long-term planning. Because Action Movers care about people, they are often successful in customer service or customer relations.
Action Movers perform best when others acknowledge how hard they work and appreciate what they do for the team. And because they typically have much more to do then they have time for, it’s important that others respect their time. Action Movers work hard to satisfy everyone and can take on more than they have time for. Pairing an Action Mover with an Action Former will help them prioritize and increase their effectiveness.
Defining the
Action Former
The Action Former
at Work
Acknowledging the
Action Former
Action Formers are highly effective organizers. For them, organizing is effortless. Where many might struggle to remain organized, they will typically have everything set up in detailed lists, or perfectly ordered files. Action Formers also like to help others stay organized and ensure they accomplish all that is needed to accomplish their goals.
Action Formers are efficient and organized, and like to help others do the same. They can be strong managers and enjoy helping others learn to do their job better. Their ability to organize also makes them ideal administrative professionals. They also serve well in high-touch jobs including HR and training. Any time a job requires a high level of efficient organization and hands-on management, an Action Former should be considered.
Action Formers are best acknowledged when appreciation for their contributions and hard work is expressed, and other team members work together in cooperation towards a goal in cordial and productive ways. Conversely, any type of destructive behavior that takes away from this collective effort, such as showing disrespect towards another team member, will be considered disrespectful by the Action Former.
Defining the
Explorer
Explorers have restless spirits and don’t like to be tied down, but at the same time, they value having a safe and stable ‘home base’ to return to. Explorers are keen on experiencing new things and often enjoy dream jobs that involve travel and being on the road. Explorers have the ability to see what’s ahead and to guide others. They are particularly good at anticipating potential dangers on the horizon.
The Explorer
at Work
Explorers are often good at business development, especially when the work involves finding new opportunities. Almost any kind of work that involves moving is attractive to an Explorer. Explorers are able to rely on their instincts and don’t shy away from uncertainty and change. They’re forward-thinking and bring an innovative perspective to any organization.
Acknowledging the
Explorer
Explorers thrive when they’re acknowledged not so much for the job they're doing, but for the treasures they bring back to their team. Whether it’s a new idea or technology or skill—the Explorer considers bestowing these gifts upon his team—his true value and accomplishment.
Defining the
Watchog
The Watchdog
at Work
Acknowledging the
Watchdog
Watchdogs are known for making the best use of what they have. The Watchdog is eager to supply what is needed by the team and does so not by merely making due with what is available, but by transforming what is available into what is needed. Watchdogs want others to get along and will do what they can to encourage cooperation for the good of the team, if they think it’s lacking. Watchdogs follow the rules, and can often be found working with financial functions.
Watchdogs are ideally suited for financial work that involves management and asset distribution rather than investments and driving the bottom line. As a rule, Watchdogs do well at jobs that are detail-oriented and involve consistent work that focuses on taking care of the needs of the other, such as protective work of all kinds.
The best way to acknowledge a Watchdog is to appreciate the work they do in service of the team and the organization–especially their ability to work their magic with finite resources —transforming what’s available into what is needed.
Defining the
Conductor
The Conductor
at Work
Acknowledging the
Conductor
Conductors have the zeal to make sure the team does things the right way. They are fixers, and are almost irresistibly drawn into fixing things so they are performing at their best. If something is broken, they will be the ones that rush to try to fix it. Sometimes they can be a bit impulsive about doing this, but they mean well. They are devoted to the accomplishment of their goals, in the service of the team, no matter what obstacles get in the way.
Conductors make excellent troubleshooters. They can handle difficult customer service problems, especially of a technical nature. They can be excellent teachers or trainers, because they want to ensure that their students learn to do things the right way. They may also enjoy work involving persuasion, such as sales of items that fix problems, counseling (which they may think of as fixing people,) collections, etc. Because they like making things right, they’re often engaged in some form of quality control.
Conductors thrive when they’re acknowledged for all they do for the team. They enjoy receiving a simple thanks for their efforts, and being recognized for the value they bring to the team. Conductors need to see a willingness in others to cooperate and a desire to accomplish goals properly. Trust is important to conductors, and they not only want to be trusted implicitly, but they can get angry if they feel mistreated or think they’re not trusted.
Defining the
Curator
The Curator
at Work
Acknowledging the
Curator
Curators are often known as subject-matter experts. Because of their modesty, they’re rather unobtrusive and therefore aren’t inclined to volunteer their knowledge, but are happy to share it when approached. As the keepers of the institutional memory, Curators can be a terrific source of wisdom when it comes to an organization, and will point you in the right direction if they don’t have the answer you’re looking for.
Curators are very good at any job that involves the acquisition, preservation, and recovery of knowledge, such as librarians or knowledge-management professionals. A Curator is able to make difficult decisions as an organization moves forward. They can evaluate large amounts of information and determine which is important and worth keeping, which is useful in the future, and which is useless and can be discarded.
More than any other Role, the Curator needs to be acknowledged for his extensive knowledge before they’ll be willing to share it. It’s not so much himself, but the wisdom he provides that's important to him. Curators want to see the team successful, and want to see others work with his ideas, take the time to understand them, and employ them to the benefit of the organization.
Defining the
Communicator
The Communicator
at Work
Acknowledging the
Communicator
Communicators are a team’s community builders, and are often well-liked. They are friendly, affable, outgoing, and are good listeners and talkers, which makes them naturally adept at spreading the Vision of the team. They enjoy connecting people, especially when they they can help to resolve one another's problems.
Because they are so friendly and like to chat, Communicators are generally excellent at customer service or in positions where a lot of customer contact is required. They can make wonderful teachers and are also drawn to helping professions—from medical to clergy to politics. Most Communicators also appreciate opportunities to advance in the organization.
Communicators want people to like them, and though acknowledging their work is appreciated, feeling 'liked' is really what counts to them. Communicators are adept at spreading good will and understanding, and should be admired for their personal qualities. Others hold them in high esteem and see them as dignified. Communicators tend to feel they have an image to uphold—for themselves and those they represent.
THE VISION MOVER
THE VISION FORMER
THE ACTION MOVER
THE ACTION FORMER
THE EXPLORER
THE WATCHDOG
THE CONDUCTOR
THE CURATOR