The Importance Of Understanding Personality When Coaching
Personality is “the consistent ways in which the behaviour of one person differs from that of others, especially in social situations” (Cox, 1990). As a coach, understanding the athletes’ personalities is crucial to help them reach their full potential. An article written by Robert Schneider and Robert Baker (Schneider & Baker, 2013) explores this idea further, stating that to motivate an athlete effectively, the coach must first understand that no two athletes are the same. They explain that a great coach and an effective motivator should be willing to take the time to get to know their athletes (Schneider & Baker, 2013).
Many theories exist surrounding the topic of personality. The interactionist theory examines an individual's personality and how it interacts with their environment. Therefore, this theory is the most preferred among professionals, given that people behave differently in different situations. Hollander, by whom this approach was spearheaded, looks at three layers in this theory. The psychological core is considered the "true self", the deepest layer of one's personality, which remains unchanged in any environment. Typical responses are based on the social environment and past experiences an individual has learned and accumulated (Pentin, 2014), and role-related behaviours, which are the most changeable aspect of an individual's personality. This final layer suggests that personality changes depending on a 'role' being filled. (Weinberg & Gould, 2011).
Trait theorists believe that genetic traits determine personality, and thus behaviour is genetically programmed (Weinberg & Gould, 2011). For example, an individual may be considered calm, quiet, and introverted; trait theories suggest that this individual would act as such in any situation regardless of environment. One theory within the trait realm is that of Michael Eysenck, who proposed that personality was based on biological factors, arguing that individuals inherit a nervous system that influences their ability to learn and adapt to different environments (Mcleod, 2023). His theory, therefore, considers both nature and nurture in an individual's life experience. His approach explores traits among dimensions of introversion, extroversion, neuroticism, and stability.
For example, look at the coach-athlete interactions at a powerlifting competition. A great coach will have identified that one of their athletes is quite introverted and perhaps slightly neurotic when considering Eysenck's four personality traits. This athlete, therefore, would not respond well to "being hyped up" by a coach as they attempt to lift heavy weights in competition. They do not require any further stimulation, so the coach, to get the best out of the athlete at that competition, should recognise that they must present themselves as calm, organised, and positive in that athlete's environment. Conversely, suppose the coach was to provide further stimulation, appear stressed, or even act too excited. In that case, it may negatively affect the athlete's performance as their personality traits suggest that they already struggle to relax. This overstimulation could lead to a lack of focus in executing the task.
Modern theorists favour the "Big 5" personality theory. This theory, rather than categorising individuals, instead reviews five traits on a scale scoring from high to low. The five traits in question are openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Knowing where an athlete scores on the continuum for these traits helps a coach understand their personality more and can better cater to their needs. For example, if an athlete scores high in openness, they may be willing to try new methods/approaches in training; however, if an athlete scores low in openness, then the coach should refrain from making drastic changes to a training program.
In summary, an abundance of evidence exists to support the connection between coaches understanding their athlete's personalities and the success of that athletes. Getting to know the athlete through personality profiling, meetings, or social interactions is key to understanding what makes the athlete "tick." Then and only then can the coach truly maximise that athlete's potential.