Even the most impressive, well-rounded individuals are not good at everything. As a team leader, you need to recognize your own strengths and limitations and have the confidence to assemble a group of individuals who complement you. Great teams include people with different perspectives and a variety of strengths. An ideal team includes people who, between them, can fulfil all the roles illustrated here.

DIRECTION AND BELIEF
Teams need a leader to define what the group is out to achieve, or at least a chairperson who provides structure, drawing members’ ambitions together to marshal the team’s goals. Having clear goals helps the team stays focused, but success also depends on people being motivated to achieve them. This means that every team needs at least one person who instills belief and inspires the others - someone who makes the team blossom. This could be the leader or another charismatic team member who others look up to. People with the 'Get Somewhere New’ tendency (see 'Personality Types') are often good at this.
 
IDEAS AND PROVOCATION
To achieve its objectives, a team needs at least one or two people who can think creatively, to help move the thinking on and come up with potential ways of solving problems. They provide the team with intellectual nourishment. To flourish, most teams benefit from having someone who considers the wider context and uses this to challenge the group’s thinking and assumptions. They also won’t shy away from standing up to the leader when they feel it’s necessary.
 
RIGOUR AND PRACTICALITY
To avoid risking failure, teams also need someone able to weigh up the pros and cons of major decisions in an objective way. This person’s role is to make sure all potential consequences are taken into consideration before the team finalizes a decision. People with the ‘Get It Right’ tendency are usually best suited to this role. Once a decision has been made, the team needs someone with the practical skills necessary to develop a workable plan and keep track of progress, to ensure that costs and schedules are adhered to.
 
HARMONY AND CLARITY
Even a team that has clear goals and effective plans is likely to fail if it isn’t stable. At the root of any strong team is a harmonious way of working. Other team members may be able to provide direction and ambition that help unite the group, but it’s often helpful to have one individual who fosters a collaborative team spirit. People with the ‘Get on Well’ tendency are ideal for this role. They may also play a role in ensuring that everyone remains grounded — clear about what the team has to achieve and how everyone needs to work together.
 
As team leader, it’s your job to build a team that’s able to fulfill all these roles, even if some members need to wear multiple hats.


See also 'The Effective Team Diamond'.