A Strategy to Win: Personality and Sports

“Golf is a game of inches. The most important are the six inches between your ears.”
ARNOLD PALMER

Ask a champion what distinguishes them from an average person and you’re likely to hear the word mindset mentioned somewhere. But what is mindset? Well, it’s the combination of our personality, experience, and free will that we apply to our daily life. Sports and sports performance have been the subject of much study since the first Olympic games (and maybe even before that). And why not? Many people admire those who conquer their rivals on the field, on the court, or at the chess table.

Although many people agree that personality plays a role in sports performance, relatively little has been done to explore the relationship between personality traits and how and why we perform on the field. However, research has shown that Introversion and Extraversion, as well as the Assertive and Turbulent personality traits, significantly influence how people behave in sports. At 16Personalities, we understand how these four traits relate to each other – you might even recognize them as defining our personality Strategy groups.

In the first part of this article, we’ll examine how our Strategy may help us choose the right sport for us. And after that, we’ll take a look at how this might play out for each personality type in a team.

Strategies

Confident Individualism (I___-A)

Confident Individualists would likely thrive in individual, competitive sports that are solitary yet require strong nerves and concentration, such as tennis. While they might enjoy the occasional team sport, it’s more likely that they’d spend most of their workouts alone or with a trusted friend. For example, a Confident Individualist may not shy away from running a marathon but might prefer to train for it alone.

When they do end up as part of a team, Confident Individualists often want to take the game into their own hands. That means managing every situation and taking some shots at the goal. They might even have some trouble trusting others to take decisive shots, if their skills don’t seem up to par with the requirements of the situation. This might prove troublesome for morale and for the team as a whole.

On the other hand, if Confident Individualists’ skills aren’t enough for the situation, they might put too much pressure on themselves. That could potentially lead to losing a game.

People Mastery (E___-A)

People Masters would likely thrive in group sports, as their name suggests. Not only that, they might easily become leaders within their teams – their innate ability to communicate makes them capable of forming cohesive teams around them. However, this might come at the expense of the individual work that an athlete should do to improve their skills.

It might sound counterintuitive for People Masters, but if they hit a plateau in their sport, they can benefit from some targeted solitary training. Finding balance can be challenging for these Extraverted, Assertive personalities, so some mindfulness meditation may help them. (They’ll always have social networks as an outlet for their desire to communicate.)

Constant Improvement (I___-T)

One useful method of finding the right sport for your personality is to figure out which sports are contrary to it.

Following this line of thinking, Constant Improvers can be very suited to combat sports, which have been shown to channel inner energy outward and build assertiveness. The Introverted and Turbulent personality traits of the Constant Improvement Strategy could really shine in response to the tedious (for some) nature of learning the forms in combat sports. Furthermore, their perfectionistic tendencies often mean that these types hold their stress inside. Martial arts are inherently loud sports – a great medium to express that inner pressure.

People with the Constant Improvement Strategy naturally meet some difficulties in team sports and in sports that require quick reactions under stress. They usually need more time to formulate and decide on a strategy, which can prove difficult in team sports (and even in martial arts, if sparring is involved). On the other hand, joining a social, team-oriented sport like basketball or football might be just the thing to help Constant Improvers in their journey of personality evolution.

Social Engagement (E___-T)

With their Extraverted energy, Social Engagers are likely to be drawn to team sports. However, the pressure can sometimes prove too much for them. They might do well to seek somewhat noncompetitive activities that have a strong community around them. And since all the dojos will be taken by those Constant Improvers, this leaves climbing and hiking as natural recommendations. These sports and others like them are famous for their tight-knit community, and at the same time, they remain lower stress, as far as competition goes.

If they do happen to choose team sports, Social Engagers are likely to push themselves and their teammates hard. In sports, hard work very often triumphs over talent, and these personality types tend to train meticulously. And where there is meticulous training, there will always be the risk of burnout, something that Social Engagers are prone to – and should be wary of.

Personality Types

Ever wonder how each personality type might fit into a team sport, perhaps even your favorite one? We have, here at 16Personalities – and we think we’ve found a position for each personality in our imaginary team. (We couldn’t think of a proper team name, though, so we will leave that up to you! Let us know in the comments below.)

Of course, these insights don’t take skill into account, so the next time you’re in charge of choosing a team, please don’t forget to take the ability of the players into consideration too.

Analyst Personality Types

Architect (INTJ)

If chess were a team sport, Architects would likely be the first to join it. However, in our hypothetical team, their innate ability to think and concentrate would be reflected in the overall strategy that they like to create and implement on the field. Architects would be among the most thoughtful players in the game – even more so, if they have an Assertive Identity. Architects with the Confident Individualism Strategy might not revel in team sports, but when they do take part in them, you can expect them to take responsibility when they need to.

In contrast, Architects who have the Constant Improvement Strategy might be prone to so-called paralysis by analysis, impeding their participation with the team, unless they learn to master themselves.

Logician (INTP)

Many Logicians would rather stay on the sidelines, forming the overall strategy of the team. In addition, they might not be the ones to implement their strategy and may look to teammates with other personalities to do so. This may stem from the fact that Logicians want to be able to test many different strategies in the game, which might not be possible if they’re solely focused on the action from within the action.

Logicians with the Confident Individualism Strategy might be a little more content with how a game develops than their Constant Improver counterparts, who might crave too many changes in the course of an unchangeable game.

Commander (ENTJ)

Commanders would naturally strive to take a leading role in the game, and their innate charisma can help them achieve that, more often than not. These personalities excel in situations where sharp thinking, laserlike focus, and strong determination are required. However, this could sometimes prove a negative thing, especially when Commanders aren’t in charge of the team.

Commanders with the People Mastery Strategy are much more likely than their Social Engager cousins to cope well with the stress of the game. The former might even be prone to seeking stressful situations, because they tend to perform better in them. Of course, that means that they might put stress on other team members too.

Debater (ENTP)

Debaters love intellectual challenges and would love to challenge the team strategy, even if their views are in the minority. That’s a very important quality, because the hectic nature of team sports can lead some personalities to become too focused on one strategy. Debaters are there to challenge the team leaders – even on the field.

As you can imagine, that might prove to be a bit problematic in an undecided game, but if their team is losing, Debaters might just be the ones with a strategy that turns the game around. The Assertive People Masters among Debaters might be a little more thoughtful when presenting their theories, but sometimes Turbulent Debaters’ forceful nature might be just what a team needs.

Diplomat Personality Types

Advocate (INFJ)

If there’s a player who does their job on the field with the tenacity of 10 people, they are likely an Advocate. Advocates would give everything they have in order to help their team. No matter if they’re winning or losing, their efforts will be the same.

Advocates with the Constant Improvement Strategy might get caught up in the whirlwind of their efforts and risk burnout on the field. On the other hand, Confident Individualist Advocates are likely to notice difficulties in a game and be extra helpful when giving their best to overcome them.

Mediator (INFP)

Mediators are likely to be in the game because they were dragged there by their more Extraverted friends. But once they’re there, they would do what they’re best at – preserving the chemistry within the team. If the game is friendly, they might even do the same for the opposing team, since they don’t usually like fiercely competitive games.

If they happen to be the most skillful players, Mediators may also naturally turn into leaders on the field. This might be a little problematic for those with the Constant Improvement Strategy, because their Turbulent Identity can drive them to focus too much on the difficulties ahead. On the other hand, Mediators with the Confident Individualism Strategy are more likely to take the difficulties in the game head on.

Protagonist (ENFJ)

Protagonists, as you may know, are natural-born leaders. If they happen to be on a team with like-minded people, their innate qualities are likely to shine even more. Protagonists can feel the rhythm within a game and their team in a way that very few other personality types can. If a coach wants someone who can serve as a true inspiration for their team, they’re unlikely to go wrong choosing a Protagonist. This is especially true if the Protagonist is a People Master, because these are self-confident individuals, which really helps in a competitive environment.

In contrast, Protagonists with the Social Engagement Strategy are likely to become very invested in the game, which might be both a boon and a curse, especially if the game doesn’t go the way they want. Compared to their People Master counterparts, they would probably thrive more under the guidance of a skilled coach.

Campaigner (ENFP)

Campaigners are likely to enjoy participating in various team sports, especially if it means making new friends along the way. They may not join in the usual trash talk in a game, unless they really feel that doing so will amuse everyone – and as long as things are kept as friendly as possible. Their innate ability to bring people together helps them gather their team closely, which can prove crucial when the game is going badly and needs that extra spark of team effort.

The People Masters among Campaigners might be more prone to taking the leadership role in the team, since they’re more likely to cope well with stress. Meanwhile, Social Engagers might be the ones to focus on a single problem on the field and work to change it during the game.

Sentinel Personality Types

Logistician (ISTJ)

Since Logisticians are one of the most abundant personality types, you can expect to see them in the field of sports. That’s a good thing for the people who devise the team’s strategy, because Logisticians can be counted on to implement it diligently. Their qualities especially shine in games where the work just needs to get done, like when the team is playing against an inferior competitor.

Logisticians (and Sentinels as a whole) are great additions to a team in a predictable game. However, games are rarely predictable, and Logisticians would likely not be the ones to turn the tide of a game with inventive and unpredictable play.

Defender (ISFJ)

Defenders will reach beyond themselves to ensure not only the win but also the safety of their teammates. They’re often the engine behind team efforts, even though they may not always get noticed. They’re like a defensive midfielder in soccer who destroys the opposing team’s game but almost never takes the credit for it – and Defenders pride themselves on that.

That said, Defenders with the Constant Improvement Strategy are likely to blame themselves for everything that goes wrong on the field. Any coach should be prepared with techniques to help them overcome that feeling, especially since they’re such an abundant personality type. Defenders with the Confident Individualism Strategy, on the other hand, would do very well if tasked with managing team efforts on the field.

Executive (ESTJ)

Every team sport has a person who is regarded as “the coach on the field” – be it the quarterback, the point guard, or the playmaker – and that person just might be an Executive personality type. Executives are great when tasked with implementing an agreed-upon strategy. They might feel a little stressed by those on the team who are a bit too creative for their taste, though. While they probably understand the role that such a person can play, they might not necessarily like it.

Executives with the Social Engagement Strategy will likely be more passionate about keeping order within the team. The People Master representatives of this personality type may keep the other team members at a distance, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t passionate about the team as a whole – quite the contrary.

Consul (ESFJ)

A Consul would likely be the most popular person on the team, but that title would not be in vain. When they must take responsibility into their own hands, Consuls are more than capable of doing so. Not only that, if another team member needs inspiration, Consuls are likely to have a kind word for them too. Similar to Executives but with a touch more empathy, Consuls are the quarterback who will make the most important pass, the playmaker who can score a goal and also pass the ball when needed.

Consuls with the Social Engagement Strategy might be at risk of dwelling a little too much on their inevitable mistakes, while those with the People Mastery Strategy might skip over the rumination process, even though it’s an important part of sports that helps further decisions.

Explorer Personality Types

Virtuoso (ISTP)

Virtuoso is a title reserved for only the most ingenious of sportspeople, and rightly so. If the current strategy isn’t working and the team needs a brilliant play, a Virtuoso has probably thought of several that they could implement. In games where everything is decided by a play or two, their presence could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

These personalities might sometimes be tough for their teammates and coaches to handle, but their presence guarantees fun, at the very least. However, sometimes a play that seems ingenious to them might prove too much for teammates who prefer a more direct approach. This can be exacerbated if the Virtuoso possesses the Confident Individualism Strategy, because they probably feel quite certain that their ideas will work.

Adventurer (ISFP)

Should the coach or the team decide to try a new strategy during a game, Adventurers are likely to want to test it out – the more creative and ingenious, the better. Adventurers may also prefer to try a beautiful but uncertain approach to a goal rather than a traditional one. Sometimes this works perfectly, but other times the results can be embarrassing.

Even so, their openness is often the envy of the other members of the team. Not only that, Adventurers are perfectly capable of seeing and appreciating the beauty of the other team’s plays as well. Adventurers with the Confident Individualism Strategy may revel in their abilities, regardless of the opinion of the rest of the team, while those with the Constant Improvement Strategy might be easier to persuade out of a creative play – and more reluctant to try to do it themselves.

Entrepreneur (ESTP)

In the last minutes of a clutch game, it’s a specific type of person who takes it upon themselves to make the final shot. Entrepreneurs, especially those with the People Mastery Strategy, are the perfect personalities for this job. Always ready to take risks, they’re the players that can decide a game, provided that they have the right conditions and skills. In some cases, however, these risky plays might not be worth it for the team, so their teammates and coaches might sometimes need to keep them in check.

Entrepreneurs with the Social Engagement Strategy may be a little more prone to taking others’ opinions into account, which might be a bad thing when it comes to the shots that make news. They might need some encouragement, but once they’ve set their minds on it (which could be a rather spontaneous decision), they’ll take that risky shot, for sure. And then, it’s up to Fortune to decide.

Entertainer (ESFP)

If you need a person to lift the team’s mood during a game, look no further than an Entertainer. They’re as likely to cheer up their team from the sidelines as they are from within the heat of the match. They’re much more likely to be engaged in ensuring that everyone (themselves included) has a great time than in making sure that they’re on the winning team.

This might prove to be a little problematic if things aren’t going as planned, and the rest of the team isn’t in the mood for celebration. That’s unlikely to lower the enthusiasm of Entertainers with the People Mastery Strategy, but it might be a bit disruptive for those who are Social Engagers.

Final Thoughts

Personality is only one aspect of sports performance. However, at the highest level, it’s often the small things that distinguish champions from runners-up.

If you want to be a winning tennis player, you are likely to face several match points from your opponent, and your personality will come into play. In a team with many skillful players (like most high-level teams), the personalities of the players work together to form the chemistry of the team – and we know from experience that a team with good chemistry is more likely to perform well.

This isn’t to say that personality should drive all the choices when selecting players for a team, but this article might help you when you’re the one picking. Sports are social environments as much as physical ones, and people have used them as such since time immemorial. Personality can be an important thing to take into account – even when playing a game.