From Queen Bee to Lone Wolf: Recognising Strengths in your Staff
18/12/2006

A team of staff chock full of different personalities and abilities is a common characteristic of most organisations. Some staff will get along and some won't, some will be better at certain tasks than others, some will sink where others will swim. Where managers can benefit however, is in appreciating these differences and recognising individuals' key strengths so that they are used in such a way as to benefit the growth and success of the organisation as a whole.

Bill Duncan, of Fifth Dimension, has 10 years' experience in team development. According to Bill, staff can often be categorised into a number of worker 'types', which, once recognised, can help when it comes to appreciating the ranges of skills and experiences present in a team and allocating work accordingly. Bill outlines the types:

Takes charge - the queen bee
The queen bee tends to take charge in group situations and is good at organising colleagues and delegating tasks. There is an unspoken agreement between colleagues with regard to the queen bee's importance and they behave accordingly. Invaluable in team tasks, this worker type thrives in people-oriented activities but is equally productive when left to his or her own devices.

Dedicated - the worker ant
With an unrivalled commitment to their tasks, worker ants are the most motivated and dedicated members in the team, regularly working after hours to get the job done. This worker type excels when surrounded by workers of a similar commitment level but is less productive when working alone.

Going solo - the lone wolf
The lone wolf is a more reserved member of staff and prefers to work alone than alongside others. Thanks to an independent attitude, this worker endures fewer interruptions from colleagues and enjoys a machine-like level of work efficiency as a result. On the surface, this may seem all well and good, but don't depend on them for teamwork activities, where, overwhelmed by colleagues, the lone wolf can rarely deliver the goods.

Team player - the penguin
The team player is an invaluable link in the chain of any organisation and can be relied upon to rally round and muck in when the going gets tough. Hard working, co-operative and compromising, the team player often ends up being everyone's best friend. This worker type can find decision making difficult.

Bold decision maker - the lion
Proactive and courageous, the decision-making worker type wastes no time in getting things done and is not afraid to take responsibility for his or her own actions. While this is generally a good thing, be aware of those decision makers who rush a process simply to get it out of the way, as hurried tasks can cause problems at a later stage.

Being able to utilise the strengths of the different types of 'zoomanity' in the team can be the key to success. An effective team requires balance and therefore has an effective mix of people, skills and abilities. A good team leader knows their team and the skill sets within it and being aware of these, recognises that each person has a unique contribution to make.


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