6 team player archetypes- reflection activity
During team games and activities, we often see people adopting different roles based on a number of things including their personality, their skills and experience, and their status and sense of power in the team.
Teams need a mix of these roles in order to perform well, and that requires adaptability from members of the team.
Here are some of the common archetypes we have observed while leading our experiences for teams.
Have you observed people adopting these archetypes in your team?
If you want these archetype descriptions in an easy to present slide deck as well as reflection questions for your team, you can download it here.
The Leader/Organiser
Sets or facilitates the discussion around strategy for allocation of tasks
Resource-focused, delegates- “do we have the information we need/can everyone access the link/does everyone understand”
Is motivated to resolve any resourcing issues identified
Often vocalises time updates for benefit of team
Sometimes also acts as the scribe
Makes sure the team is on task and keeps moving through the game (not getting stuck too long on a question)
2. The Quiet Achiever
Often the scribe
Only communicates information pertinent to the task
Less focus on interpersonal communication
Completes allocated tasks quickly
Once allocated tasks are completed, asks for more tasks
Less likely to ask for help with actual task completion
3. The Information Gatherer
Uses external resources to guide team in finding solutions- i.e, googles a lot
Often displays lateral thinking, and provides suggestions related to the master (meta) puzzle
Often takes a supporting role- may not solve individual puzzles - “I can look for that”
Asks for help and asks others if they need help
4. The Dominant Communicator
Asks direct questions
Takes the most ‘air time’, can interrupt or speak over others
Delegates tasks to others
Makes suggestions as to overall strategy
Vocalises their thinking/approach when solving problems
5. The Team Motivator
Provides encouragement to team members consistently
Facilitates interpersonal interactions, particularly through humour
Communicates empathetically i.e. uses self as example to solicit information from others, rather than asking direct questions
Contributions might not necessarily be task related, but geared toward group cohesion//psychological safety of team mates
Seeks involvement
6. The Joker
Doesn’t take the game or themselves so seriously and wants to keep the atmosphere fun & positive
Tries to land jokes to lighten the mood
Might distract team members and take them off task from time-to-time
Often a good socialiser / likeable character
Reflection exercise
If you are leading a game for your team (sign up for free), get them to reflect on which, if any of these team-player archetypes they would use to describe themselves after they have finished the game.
It’s a good way for them to take a step back and reflect on their behaviours and actions during the game.