Home >Blog > Post
By Dr. Angela Farmer
Nature or nurture, instinct or learned behavior, lead or follow—these are some of the debates regarding the nature of behavior. In the children’s game of Follow the Leader, participants have to do what the leader says or does until such time as a new leader arises. Then, the new leader takes the helm. Similar innate behaviors are witnessed among flocks of birds, schools of fish, and troops of soldiers.
In collegiate athletics, these behaviors are also evident with groups of students. The most successful teams, clearly, appear to operate as one unit. In my presentation at the 2016 MBTI® Users Conference I will examine how the MBTI type of a leader, in this case that of the coach, impacts the selection of staff, coaches, and players on a football team in a Southeastern Conference university.
This presentation will acquaint participants with MBTI research based on a “team personality type.” Since players must work cohesively in order to be productive, the coach’s personality type plays a key factor in the creation of the team type. Further, the way in which the team type is nurtured is directly related to the leader’s type. This presentation will take you directly into an athletic team and coaching staff with over 100 members. While the members’ names are hidden to protect their identities, their group type speaks loud and clear. It allows you to see how this team dynamic works, guided by the leader’s type. You will be able to predict which types are most nurtured and which types are least well adapted for survival in this unique environment.
Working with collegiate athletic teams is a significant part of my research interest in how personality influences leadership. The team members are a rowdy, fun, and unpredictable audience. I leave the sessions with them both exhausted and exhilarated. This session at the Users Conference will provide you with an engaging, entertaining, and alternative look into type. I look forward to sharing their story.
