Belbin Team Role Combinations

Unlocking Team Potential through Belbin Team Role Pairings

Don't think Team Role. Think Team Roles.

At Belbin Scotland, we know that the secret to high performing teams lies in playing to strengths. But also how strengths are combined. By understanding the interaction between different Belbin Team Role combinations, you can build more cohesive, resilient and productive teams.

How Belbin Team Role Combinations work

Lets look at some examples of how different Belbin Role combinations can influence team dynamics and delivery output. Demonstrating how certain pairings, in different contexts, can be highly beneficial.  

Here are some practical insights for putting Belbin theory into action in the workplace.

Belbin Joint Working
9 Belbin Team Roles

The Power of Belbin Team Role Combinations

Each of the 9 Belbin Team Roles brings unique strengths and allowable weaknesses to a team.

But when paired with consideration, Belbin Team Role combinations can complement and balance one another, improve team cohesion and increase deliverable outputs.

Equally, having the wrong mix or a lack of team role diversity can lead to gaps, overlaps, tension, blind spots or duplication of effort.

Team role selection can be crucial. 

A strong team doesn’t necessarily need every Team Role box ticked. What can be more important is that people “tick the right behavioural boxes” needed for the actual work the team is doing. Its also important the team collaborates effectively. 

That means combining the right team roles together for best effect.

The right people, doing the right things at the right time.

When a team really understands team roles and consciously applies different combinations it can be transformational. 

This can help reduce conflict and work duplication. It can also create a team dynamic where members are free to play to strengths, knowing colleagues can support their weaknesses.

1+1=3?

Belbin Completed Task

Lets have a look at a selection of different Belbin Team Role combinations and how each pairing can create additional value.

So that we get 1 + 1 to equal 3.

Plant + Monitor Evaluator

Belbin Plant and Monitor Evaluator

Innovation meets evaluation.

The Plant brings creative, out-of-the-box ideas.

The Monitor Evaluator provides critical thinking and detached, rational analysis.

This duo can be perfect for idea generation followed by viability assessment.

Ideal for R&D teams or strategy development.

Shaper + Teamworker

Belbin Shaper and Team Worker

Drive meets diplomacy.

Shapers push for progress and aren’t afraid to challenge.

Teamworkers bring harmony and help maintain morale.

This combo provides momentum with less friction.

Ideal for project delivery or change management.

Implementer + Completer Finisher

Belbin Implementer and Completer Finisher

Structure meets precision.

Implementers provide organised plans and practical strategies.

Completer Finishers ensure that no detail is overlooked.

Great for teams needing reliability and high-quality outcomes.

Ideal for quality assurance, compliance or general operational delivery.

Co-ordinator + Specialist

Belbin Coordinator and Specialist

Big picture meets depth.

The Co-ordinator brings a broad outlook,  strategic focus and empowerment.

The Specialist provides in-depth expertise and knowledge.

Together, they ensure expert input is integrated into the bigger picture.

Ideal for technical projects or academic teams.

Resource Investigator + Plant

Belbin Resource Investigator and Plant

Curiosity meets creativity.

Resource Investigators seek external opportunities, connections and ideas.

Plants originate more ideas themselves and think out the box.

This creative, outward-looking combination thrives on innovation and inspiration.

Ideal for developing new products / services, marketing or innovation hubs.

Monitor Evaluator + Teamworker

Belbin Monitor Evaluator and Team Worker

Judgement meets empathy.

The Monitor Evaluator provide analytical thought and a healthy degree of skepticism.

A Teamworker offers diplomacy and discretion. 

Ideal for recruitment panels or organisational governance.

Shaper + Completer Finisher

Belbin Shaper and Completer Finisher

Pace meets precision.

Shapers keep the team moving forward at speed and on track to deliver.

Completer Finishers take a bit more time and focus on the finer details.

While both are task focused, this pair may find each others style a bit challenging – speed v quality. Adding a “calming” influence like a Teamworker or Co-ordinator can help.

Ideal for urgent, deadline-driven tasks that need delivered to high quality standards.

Co-ordinator + Implementer

Belbin Coordinator and Implementer

Direction meets delivery.

Co-ordinators ensures clarity and focus of the overall aim or objective.

Implementers translate bigger picture plans into tangible action to deliver today.

This combination can be highly dependable, practical and efficient.

Ideal for operational rollouts and internal transformation projects.

Plant + Completer Finisher

Belbin Plant and Completer Finisher

Creativity meet perfectionism.

The Plant is full of ideas but often overlooks day to day practicalities.

The Completer Finisher ensures every I is dotted and every T crossed.

They may frustrate each , but when well-managed, they can produce originality and excellence.

Ideal for product development, branding or design teams.

Resource Investigator + Teamworker

Belbin Resource Investigator and Teamworker

Energy meets empathy.

The Resource Investigator brings enthusiasm and a strong networking ability. 

Teamworkers build and nurture established relationships and smooth over tensions.

This pairing is great for teams that rely on strong relationship building either inside or outside the organisation.

Ideal for customer services, complaint handling and stakeholder engagement.

Belbin Team Role Combinations by Work Type

From creative projects to cross functional matrix working, Belbin can greatly assist the selection and development of effective project based teams.

Here are a couple examples of different types of work along with some suggested Belbin Team Role combinations.

Belbin Creative Project

Creative Projects

Strong roles: Plant, Resource Investigator, Monitor Evaluator

Suggested combinations: Plant + Resource Investigator; Plant + Monitor Evaluator

Focus: Idea generation and stakeholder engagement

Practical Tip: Balance creative freedom with structured review sessions to avoid unfiltered idea creation that goes too far off tangent.

Belbin Calendar Planning

Strategic Planning

Strong roles: Monitor Evaluator, Co-ordinator, Specialist, Plant

Suggested combinations: Monitor Evaluator + Plant; Co-ordinator + Specialist

Focus: Balanced vision, idea generation and evidence-based decision-making

Practical Tip: Rotate leadership during planning sessions to ensure both sides of innovation and evaluation are heard.

Belbin Team Role Differences

Cross Functional / Matrix Teams

Strong roles: Co-ordinator, Teamworker, Monitor Evaluator, Specialist

Suggested combinations: Co-ordinator + Specialist; Teamworker + Monitor Evaluator

Focus: Integration, alignment and shared goals

Practical Tip: Assign a Co-ordinator at the communication hub to reduce friction and fragmentation across functions.

Belbin Team collaboration

Implementation and Delivery

Strong roles: Implementer, Completer Finisher, Shaper, Co-ordinator

Suggested combinations: Shaper + Implementer; Completer Finisher + Co-ordinator

Focus: Structure, accountability and timeliness

Practical Tip: Use structured check-ins to allow fast-paced roles and detail-oriented roles to sync and align regularly.

Belbin report generated

Customer Facing

Strong roles: Resource Investigator, Co-ordinator, Teamworker

Suggested combinations: Resource Investigator + Teamworker; Co-ordinator + Resource Investigator

Focus: Relationship-building, responsiveness and flexibility.

Practical Tip: Make time for debriefing with a Teamworker after high-energy interactions to maintain balance.

Want to build a better team?

Belbin Online Call

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” best team composition.

The optimal behavioural blend is often contextually relevant.

It may depend on the purpose of the team, key deliverables and their stages of development i.e. forming, storming norming and ultimately performing.

The 9 Belbin Team Roles provides a behavioural framework to enable more informed and intentional choices

Whether assembling a new team, resolving conflict, adapting to change or facing a new challenge.

Need some help?

At Belbin Scotland, we help teams apply practical, people-focused  solutions that are focused on delivering the best possible outcome. Every time, whatever the context.

Want help discovering your ideal behavioural team mix?

Have a look at the Belbin Team Report and Belbin Working Relationships Report to see how this works.  

Get in touch with us today and we will help you build a better team. 

Learn more or purchase a Belbin Individual Report here.
Contact us to discuss how we can help you.
Follow Belbin Scotland on LinkedIn
Belbin was selected from a range of psychometrics due to its focus on the individual in the team environment. It has been a fantastic tool throughout our journey. We began our culture initiative with Belbin and built upon the focus of team work to integrate the process within our recruitment procedure.
Deeanne WinkHR Business Partner
Deeanne Wink
We have used the Belbin assessment tool to support the development of Job Profiles and as a tool to consolidate agreement on the skills and attributes the recruiting panel are looking for. It can help surface different perspectives and support agreement of what is really important in the role all before you have even spoken with candidates.
Leona McDermid CEO
Leona McDermid
Whilst individuals across our company had some awareness of Belbin and the benefits it can bring to individuals or teams, as an organisation we wanted to work alongside the team at Belbin Scotland to improve our understanding and embed a shared language. We have utilised the individual tests and reports for consecutive years across the organisation and are seeing the rewards at an operational and strategic level.
Kirsty Summers HR Co-ordinator
Kirsty Summers
Our management team felt they left the session with practical tools and techniques they could apply back in the workplace, such as preparing for and holding supervision meetings with staff and giving and receiving feedback. I would recommend Belbin for any management teams keen to improve self-awareness and how this can be used to improve their ability to develop their staff and work more cohesively as a team.
Sarah HartlessHR Manager
Sarah Hartless
Belbin has been hugely impactful for our staff that have undertaken the diagnostic tool and participated in live sessions. Our talent programme for aspiring senior managers used Belbin for the first time last year, and it has now become an integral part of the programme.
Katie MenziesInterim Head of Talent, Leadership and Supporting Change
Katie Menzies
Aberdeen Foyer used Belbin individual assessment and group feedback as a way of opening up conversations between the team, building trust and confidence in each other and as a way of revealing people’s strengths and preferred styles of management.
Sarah HartlessHR Manager
Sarah Hartless
Our client’s Team really enjoyed the Belbin feedback sessions and I’d go as far as to say it actually bonded them. The better understanding of the individual strengths and allowable weaknesses led to improved team cohesion, improved communication and importantly built trust.
Mervyn StanleyManaging Director
Mervyn Stanley
The Belbin Scotland team have been incredibly supportive, responsive and knowledgeable in helping us establish this resource, bettering our training opportunities for employees going forward.
Kirsty Summers HR Co-ordinator
Kirsty Summers
Can’t thank Belbin Scotland enough for the great support and the benefits we got from using Belbin. From team working & productivity to recruitment success.
Neill RentonCountry Manager
Neill Renton
There are no right or wrong answers with Belbin and that is key, it has been most useful for shining a light on individual strengths.
Deeanne WinkHR Business Partner
Deeanne Wink
Participants in the programme have commented how much they enjoyed undertaking the Belbin assessment and putting it into practice in a face to face session. For anyone looking to develop their teams and give their people a greater understanding of what they have to offer, I would definitely recommend Belbin.
Katie MenziesInterim Head of Talent
Katie Menzies
Feedback from our management team was overwhelmingly positive, they felt the reports helped them to understand their own behavioural strengths, weaknesses and how to manage these, as well as building an understanding of other managers preferred working styles.
Sarah HartlessHR Manager
Sarah Hartless
The Belbin framework provides valuable insights into individuals' preferred roles within a team, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and potential contributions. By understanding team members' preferred behaviours and in ASV terms, where they prefer to play on the pitch, ASV aimed to improve communication, collaboration, and overall team effectiveness.
Duncan SinclairCEO
Duncan Sinclair
Belbin helped us be more specific in our advertising of the roles and go into the recruitment process with more confidence around the type of person and skills we were looking for. Would highly recommend as a process.
Leona McDermid CEO
Leona McDermid
We use Belbin to discuss inclusivity and leading diverse teams. It has provided delegates with greater insight into how they can create more effective teams and empower others based on their strengths. It has also given our staff the opportunity to reflect on their own role in their teams and what they can bring to create success.
Katie MenziesInterim Head of Talent
Katie Menzies
We quickly began to see improvements in behaviours between client team members resulting in an improvement in overall business performance. We also identified that with a lack of strength in a particular role, and our client had to look externally to bring someone in to complement the existing team. I was absolutely delighted with the results and would have no hesitation in engaging Belbin in a similar situation in the future.
Mervyn StanleyManaging Director
Mervyn Stanley