ABSTRACT
Team roles refer to the useful modes of behaviour that individuals adopt in contributing to the effective work of a team. These roles were first set out in Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail and later in Team Roles at Work. Research showed there are nine distinct ways in which individuals can make useful contributions as a member of a team. No one is perfect but a team can be, providing the team is well balanced in composition and its members understand that complementary role-play is valuable. Some individuals are outstanding in one given role, some can manage to be valued contributors in several, while a few seem unable to make their mark in any team role. However, while the various starting-points differ from one individual to another, team roles can be learned. In that way individuals can improve their personal effectiveness and become more sensitive to the role of others.
