55 days rowing the Tasman

Lessons for Personal Growth

Stewart Forsyth

12 June, IOSIG

Bridge to Bridge

55 days: the experience

Research on extreme eventers and sports people

Team selection and development

Coping

Growth

55 days

Extreme eventers research

Egan, S. and Stelmack, R. M. (2003). A personality profile of Mount Everest climbers. Personality and Individual

Differences, 34, 1491-1494.

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

-Revised was administered

to a group of climbers (N=39) who

were attempting to

summit MountEverest.

The personalityprofiles for

these climbers were characterized

by higher scores on the

Extraversion (sociability) and

Psychoticism (toughmindedness)

scales and lower scores on the

Neuroticism (anxiety) scales

Extreme eventers research

Monasterio, E. Et al (2012 – online). Personality characteristics of BASE jumpers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.

BASE jumpers: extremely

low scores in the

temperament measure of

Harm Avoidance

(Temperament and

Character Inventory)

Rugby League

League players at the

highest level were

distinguished from other

professional players by

Hardiness (commitment,

control and challenge).

Commitment and Challenge

successfully discriminated

81% of the 115 players.

(Golby and Sheard, 2004)

Extreme eventers research

Forsyth, S. (2009). Why do you do it?

Gosling, S.D., Rentfrow, P. J and Swann, W. B. (2003). A very brief measure of the Big-Five personality domains. Journal

of Research in Personality, 37,504–528.

Motutapu Dual: Off road half

marathon (21 km): N = 420

Extreme eventers research

Forsyth, S. (2009). Why do you do it?

Gosling, S.D., Rentfrow, P. J and Swann, W. B. (2003). A very brief measure of the Big-Five personality domains. Journal

of Research in Personality, 37,504–528.

Motutapu Dual: Off road half

marathon (21 km): N = 420; NZ

norm group for TIPI, N = 348

Anxiety, Hostility, Depression,

Personal insecurity,

Avoid difficult situations, or

Immobilized

Relaxed, Emotionally non-

reactive, Self-belief, Approach

difficult situations

Self-centered,

Self-promoting,

Tough-minded, Canny

Generous, Modest,

Likeable, Trusting

Aimless, Scattered,

Impulsive, Casual

Achievement, Order,

Cautious, Reliable

Distant, Lethargic,

Follower

Rapport, Active,

Taking charge

Routine, Stable,

Unperceptive, Concrete

Creativity, Change, Insightful,

Conceptual OPENNESS

NEUROTICISM

AGREEABLENESS

CONCIENTIOUSNESS

EXTROVERSION

Constructs

Think Act Feel

Neuroticism (Costa and

McCrae, 1995)

Self-consciousness Immoderation Anxiety

Anger

Depression

Vulnerability

Temperament

and Character

Inventory Cloninger, 1994)

Harm-avoidance

Hardiness (Maddi, 2002)

Challenge Commitment Control

Core Self-

evaluation (Judge et al, 2006)

Self-esteem

Generalised self-

efficacy

Locus of control

Neuroticism

Extreme eventers research

Leon, G. R. (2011). Positive Experiences and Personal Growth in a Two-Man North Pole Expedition Team. Environment

and Behavior, 43, 5710-731.

Two polar explorers

•Both extroverted

•Over the 8 weeks pos affectivity >

negative; but downward trend

•Coping – discussion, looked at

positives, relaxed, problem-solving

•Evidence of post-traumatic growth

Selection and Development

Selection and Development

Dutifulness

+ Follows instructions

Obeys authorities

Gets the work done

-

Problems with authority

Misbehaviour

Takes risks

Resilience

+

Copes with pain, boredom, threats

Works constructively with failure

-

Needs stimulation

Reacts emotionally when under pressure

Empathy and team-work

+

Tuned in to others’ situations and emotions

Resolves conflict constructively

Feels appropriate shame and remorse

Maintains long-term relationships

Comfortable with self

-

Critical, arrogant, provocative

Puts own interests first

Lacks empathy

Selection and Development

http://www.personalitytest.net/ipip/ipipneo120.htm

Guenole N, Chernyshenko O. (2005). The suitability of Goldberg’s Big-Five IPIP personality markers in New Zealand: A

dimensionality, bias, and criterion validity evaluation. New Zealand Journal of Psychology. 34:86–96.

Selection and Development

Selection and Development

Half-day team development

•Individual and team goals

•Where are you at now? Stress x Morale

•Personality and team-work

•What you appreciate about a fellow team member

•Possible critical incidents and problem-solving process

•Mindfulness exercise

•Celebrating uplifts

Coping

Wed 4/01/2012 8:19 p.m.

SMS from 881631525859@msg.iridium.com

hi stewart. we ve been stuck in the cabin now for 5 days and got 4

days to go. any advice? things to do?

Coping

Wed 4/01/2012 8:19 p.m.

SMS from 881631525859@msg.iridium.com

hi stewart. we ve been stuck in the cabin now for 5 days and got 4

days to go. any advice? things to do?

‘all had moments of negativity’, ‘boat mood so weather dependent’

All

Messages from outside (‘hanging on to that sat phone as life-line’)

Some

Joke with the guys

Writing in diary

Grit your teeth and get through it, red socks – ‘never give up’

Talking topics – Antarctic expedition, memory games

Unique

Beauty – moon, stars, whales, dolphins, albatross

Calming, positive thoughts – ‘lucky guy’ (Hard to do relaxation when getting thrown around

cabin)

Sister sent quotes

Listening to music

Ideal food bag (cabin-mate gave me cookies)

Had talked about what going to happen when considered landing at Hokianga

Growth

Before and after – within a few days of start and end of

race; Later; 2-3 months on.

Growth

Growth

Facet changes > 30%

O: Emo 66%

O: Adv 30%

E: Assert 36%

E: Cheer 35%

N: Anx -44%

N: Self cons -32%

N: Vuln -32%

Growth

Tedeschi R.G. and Calhoun L.G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth Inventory: Measuring the positive legacy

of trauma. J of Traumatic Stress, 9, 455-471

Growth

Gained more belief in self…new sense of confidence in some things,

made some good decisions – can be more assertive…feel bit more

organised, less likely to be self-critical, know what able to do, have

more hope rather than over-analysing, more talkative

Learned more about myself – not as independent as thought,

appreciate the little things in life – family and friends

Got to know others intimately

Learned – not them annoying me – but me getting annoyed – got to

take a breath, cultivate detachment, don’t worry about little things now

Made a difference to others

Would you do it again?

Change

Peter Hart, 2011

Change

Change steps?

1. Setting exciting goals

2. Gaining support

3. Practice for results

(including developing skills)

4. Coping with the pain

5. Review of results

6. Building on positives for new

goals

John Kotter’s change model

1. Establishing sense of urgency

2. Creating the guiding coalition

3. Developing a change vision

4. Communicating the vision for

buy-in

5. Empowering broad-based action

6. Generating short-term wins

7. Never letting up

8. Incorporating changes into the

culture

•Will personality and growth changes persist?

•Does it take a crisis to instigate change?

•Are there any other vital ingredients to sustain change?

•Your questions and ideas…

‘Lots of good things in the world, but not sure that comradeship is not

the best of them all’

Ernest Shackleton

Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell (2001). Shackleton’s Way.

What now?