Personal growth after 55 days rowing the Tasman: the experience of the Gallagher Challenge Team

1. 55 days rowing the Tasman
Lessons for Personal Growth
Stewart Forsyth
12 June, IOSIG

2. Bridge to Bridge
55 days: the experience
Research on extreme eventers and sports people
Team selection and development
Coping
Growth

3. 55 days

4. Extreme eventers research
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
Egan, S. and Stelmack, R. M. (2003). A personality profile of Mount Everest climbers. Personality and Individual
Differences, 34, 1491-1494.

5. Extreme eventers research
BASE jumpers: extremely
low scores in the
temperament measure of
Harm Avoidance
(Temperament and
Character Inventory)
Monasterio, E. Et al (2012 – online). Personality characteristics of BASE jumpers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.

6. 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)

7. Extreme eventers research
Motutapu Dual: Off road half
marathon (21 km): N = 420
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.

8. Extreme eventers research
Motutapu Dual: Off road half
marathon (21 km): N = 420; NZ
norm group for TIPI, N = 348
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.

9. Routine, Stable, Creativity, Change, Insightful,
Unperceptive, Concrete OPENNESS Conceptual
Aimless, Scattered, Achievement, Order,
CONCIENTIOUSNESS
Impulsive, Casual Cautious, Reliable
Distant, Lethargic, EXTROVERSION Rapport, Active,
Follower Taking charge
Self-centered,
AGREEABLENESS Generous, Modest,
Self-promoting,
Likeable, Trusting
Tough-minded, Canny
Anxiety, Hostility, Depression,
Relaxed, Emotionally non-
Personal insecurity, NEUROTICISM reactive, Self-belief, Approach
Avoid difficult situations, or
difficult situations
Immobilized

10. Constructs
Think Act Feel
Neuroticism Self-consciousness Immoderation Anxiety
(Costa and Anger
McCrae, 1995) Depression
Vulnerability
Temperament Harm-avoidance
and Character
Inventory
Cloninger, 1994)
Hardiness Challenge Commitment Control
(Maddi, 2002)
Core Self- Self-esteem Neuroticism
Generalised self-
evaluation efficacy
(Judge et al, 2006) Locus of control

11. Extreme eventers research
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
Leon, G. R. (2011). Positive Experiences and Personal Growth in a Two-Man North Pole Expedition Team. Environment
and Behavior, 43, 5710-731.

12. Selection and Development

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Selection and Development

16. 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

17. 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?

18. 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

19. Growth
Before and after – within a few days of start and end of
race; Later; 2-3 months on.

20. Growth

21. 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%

22. 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

23. 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?

24. Change
Peter Hart, 2011

25. Change
Change steps? John Kotter’s change model
1. Setting exciting goals 1. Establishing sense of urgency
2. Gaining support 2. Creating the guiding coalition
3. Practice for results 3. Developing a change vision
(including developing skills) 4. Communicating the vision for
4. Coping with the pain buy-in
5. Review of results 5. Empowering broad-based action
6. Building on positives for new 6. Generating short-term wins
goals 7. Never letting up
8. Incorporating changes into the
culture

26. What now?
•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.