While we talk about the entrepreneurial character, he or she has to build a team to support their venture or ventures. It is clear and obvious the entrepreneur cannot grow or build a business on their own.

Dr Belbin’s analysis is probably the most celebrated work on character traits and dynamics in business. His definition of team roles was ‘a tendency to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular way.’

The roles that Belbin defined are used widely throughout a number of organisations but none of them demonstrably show the ‘leader’. A few have that specific skill in their brief, such as the ‘Chairman’.

While the entrepreneur may take the role of chairman this may not fit naturally. The entrepreneur and founder may be the ‘ideas man’ and or the ‘brains’ behind the venture, by understanding the product and particularly the marketplace but not taking the role of Chairman.

The entrepreneur’s role as leader will be by example and the simple fact he owns and probably runs the organisation. he pays the wages, for example.

The Chairman will be a co-ordinating role and not necessarily have nor contain the vision and strategy that is required to take the business forward.

We will discuss the team further next month.