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TASK AND MAINTENANCE ROLES OF TEAM MEMBERS

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There are many roles that people perform when they are part of a team. 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.

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) and group solidarity

HARMONIZER

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

this person brings in personal feelings, ideas, etc., not pertinent nor oriented to the group

HELP-SEEKER

attempts to express insecurity, gain sympathy, or in other ways, deprecate self

SPECIAL INTEREST PLEADER

expresses own biases or prejudices by pleading for the minority groups within the group

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