Kim in Cambodia: June 2007

This week we took The Belbin Test for Assessing Team Roles. It was fun to get to know the way that other people work. I just had an all around good time getting to know the people I work with at Chab Dai. The Belbin Test said that I am an Implementer and a Plant and my third one was Shaper. I read through the plant one first and this is what it said:

Plant

Individualistic, serious minded, unorthodox

Plants are innovators and inventers and can be highly creative. They provide the seeds and ideas from which major developments spring. Usually they prefer to operate by themselves at some distance from the other members of the team, using their imagination and often working in an unorthodox way. They tend to be introverted and react strongly to criticism and praise. Their ideas may often be radical and may lack practical constraint.

They are independent, clever and original and may be weak in communicating with other people on a different wave-length.

Function

The main use of a Plant is to generate new proposals and to solve complex problems. Plants are often needed in the initial stage of a project or when a project is failing to progress. Plants have often made their marks as founders of companies or as originators of new products.

Strengths: Genius, imagination, intellect, knowledge

Allowable Weaknesses: Up in the clouds, inclined to disregard practical details or protocol

When I read that, it almost described me perfectly. I say almost, because I think the Implementer balances me out a little:

Implementer

Implementers are well organized, enjoy routine, and have a practical common-sense and self-discipline. They favour hard work and tackle problems in a systematic fashion. On a wider front they hold unswerving loyalty to the organization and are less concerned with the pursuit of self-interest. Implementers may find difficulty in coping with new situations.

Function

Implementers are useful because of their reliability and capacity for application. They succeed because they have a sense of what is feasible and relevant. It is said that many executives only do the jobs they wish to do and neglect those tasks which they find distasteful. By contrast, Implementers will do what needs to be done. Good Implementers often progress to high management positions by virtue of good organizational skills and efficiency in dealing with all necessary work.

Strengths: Organizing ability, practical common sense, hard-working, self-discipline

Allowable Weaknesses: lack of flexibility, resistance to unproven ideas

Now they very much look like opposites. I almost think they are, but not for me. I have characteristics of both, which is probably why I scored a ‘16’ and a ‘17’ on them. I think I am the well organized and grounded person from the Implementer side, but I also am very creative…and really that whole first paragraph from the Plant one describes me (and the genius…obviously). I also scored very highly on Shaper…

Shaper

Highly strung, outgoing, dynamic

Shapers are highly motivated people with a lot of nervous energy and a great need for achievement. Often they seem to be aggressive extroverts with a strong drive. Shapers like to challenge, to lead and push others into action – and to win. If obstacles arise, they will find a way round – but can be headstrong and emotional in response to any form of disappointment or frustration.

Shapers can handle and even thrive on confrontation.

Function

Shapers generally make good managers because they generate action and thrive on pressure. They are excellent at sparking life into a team and are very useful in groups where political complications are apt to slow things down. Shapers are inclined to rise about problems of this kind and forge ahead regardless. They like making necessary changes and do not mind taking unpopular decisions. As the name implies, they try to impose some shape and pattern on group discussion or activities. They are probably the most effective members of a team in guaranteeing positive action.

Strengths: Drive and a readiness to challenge inertia, ineffectiveness, complacency, or self-deception

Allowable Weaknesses: Prone to provocation, irritation, and impatience, and a tendency to offend others.

I just found the whole exercise interesting. I am sure my mum and dad at least find this funny as well.