“WINTER IS COMING”, but how will each person deal with it?
As the late Eddard Stark warned, ‘Winter is Coming’, and the various characters within the Game of Thrones universe will all deal with it quite differently.
The medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones has many fascinating characters. They are counterparts of those in George R. R Martin’s “A Song of Fire and Ice” series of novels.
Like any real-world workplace the various characters in this rather complex and turbulent world all bring with them behavioural strengths and weaknesses. These account in great measure for their ongoing successes and failures.
They will each exhibit the strengths and weaknesses of their natural Team Role preferences to varying degress with some managing the associated weaknesses better than others.
With the next series soon to hit small screens all over the world, the GOT devotees in our office have been debating the various strengths and weaknesses of some of the major characters. We have used Belbin's 9 Team Role styles. These are used to measure behavioural contributions in business, government, defence and sporting teams world-wide.
Which GOT character might you be like at work and why?
Just like us, and the many other people in our workplaces, a character does not have just one single behavioural style, but rather a blend of preferences anchored in a lifetime’s worth of experience. You may therefore see your favourite characters pop up in several Team Role types.
Personality is also but one of many contributing factors for how they will operate behaviourally, particularly when working under pressure.
With a rather complex plot it’s also quite hard to pin down some characters as the many day to day and behind the scenes scenarios that help define a behavioural Team Role may not get any screen time.
Having said that, we have hotly debated some of the main characters based upon what we can see, and here are our thoughts so far.
These are based on only a handful per Belbin Team Role style (feel free to place any of your faves we may have missed yourself).
RESOURCE INVESTIGATOR
They use their inquisitive nature to find ideas, pursue their interests and bring opportunities to the team. They can be quite influential and entrepreneurial.
Strengths: Outgoing, enthusiastic. Explores opportunities and develops contacts
Allowable weaknesses: Might be over-optimistic, and can lose interest once the initial enthusiasm has passed.
Don't be surprised to find that: They might forget to follow up on a lead.
Jaimie Lannister, Petyr Baelish, Margaery Tyrell, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen
TEAMWORKER
Help the team to gel, using their versatility to support and see the best in others, and identify needed work required and complete it on behalf of the team.
Strengths: Co-operative, perceptive and diplomatic. Listens, supports others and averts friction
Allowable weaknesses: Can be indecisive in crunch situations and tends to avoid confrontation
Don't be surprised to find that: They might be hesitant to make unpopular decisions.
Sansa Stark, Samwell Tarly, Eddard Stark
CO-ORDINATOR
Needed to focus on the team's objectives, draw out team members and delegate work appropriately.
Strengths: Mature, confident, identifies talent. Clarifies goals.
Allowable weaknesses: Can be seen as manipulative and might offload their own share of the work.
Don't be surprised to find that: They might over-delegate, leaving themselves little work to do.
Robert Baratheon, Tywin Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Daenerys Targerion, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen
PLANT
Tend to be big picture / visionary in orientation, highly creative and good at solving problems in unconventional ways.
Strengths: Creative, imaginative, free-thinking, generates ideas and solves difficult problems
Allowable weaknesses: Might ignore incidentals, and may be too preoccupied to communicate effectively
Don't be surprised to find that: They could be absent-minded or forgetful.
Maester Aemon, Arya Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Maester Luwin
MONITOR EVALUATOR
Provides a logical eye, making impartial judgements where required and weighs up the team's options in a dispassionate way.
Strengths: Sober, strategic and discerning. Sees all options and judges accurately.
Allowable weaknesses: Sometimes lacks the drive and ability to inspire others and can be overly critical.
Don't be surprised to find that: They could be slow to come to decisions.
Tywin Lannister, Maester Aemon, Lord Varys, Tyrian Lannister
SPECIALIST
Brings in-depth knowledge of a key area to the team.
Strengths: Single-minded, self-starting and dedicated. They provide specialist knowledge and skills.
Allowable weaknesses: Tends to contribute on a narrow front and can dwell on the technicalities.
Don't be surprised to find that: They overload you with information.
Maester Aemon, Jorah Momont, Breanne of Tarth
SHAPER
Provide the necessary drive to ensure that the team keeps moving and does not lose focus or momentum.
Strengths: Challenging, dynamic, thrives on pressure. Has the drive and courage to overcome obstacles.
Allowable weaknesses: Can be prone to provocation, and may sometimes offend people's feelings.
Don't be surprised to find that: They could risk becoming aggressive and bad-humoured in their attempts to get things done.
Robert Baratheon, Stanis Baratheon, Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen
IMPLEMENTER
Needed to plan a workable strategy and carry it out as efficiently as possible.
Strengths: Practical, reliable, loyal, efficient. Turns ideas into actions and organises the hard work that needs to be done.
Allowable weaknesses: Can be a bit inflexible and slow to respond to new possibilities.
Don't be surprised to find that: They might be slow to relinquish their plans in favour of positive changes.
Breanne of Tarth, Stanis Baratheon, Eddard Stark, Jorah Mormont, Jon Snow, Davos Seaworth.
COMPLETER FINISHER
Most effectively used to polish and scrutinise the work for errors, subjecting it to the highest standards of quality control and keeping up high standards.
Strengths: Painstaking, conscientious, anxious. Searches out errors. Polishes and perfects.
Allowable weaknesses: Can be inclined to worry unduly, and reluctant to delegate.
Don't be surprised to find that: They could be accused of taking their perfectionism to extremes.
Robb Stark, Davos Seaworth, Grey Worm.
Feel free to let us know if you disagree or would like to suggest where any of your favourites that we may have missed might sit.