Personality Traits of Romanian Sports Managers: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Personality traits analysis represents an essential tool for training and even selecting effective managers in sports organizations. The purpose of the research was to investigate the Big-Five personality characteristics of Romanian sports managers. A total of forty-five experienced (ESM) and future managers of sports organizations (FMSO), aged between 21 and 60 years old, took part in the study. The Mini-IPIP questionnaire was used to measure Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Imagination/Intellect. Using the t-test for independent samples, the differences between the two groups of sports managers (ESM and FMSO) were verified. Even if no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05), subtle differences in term of Big-Five personality traits were observed: ESM tend to be slightly more extroverted and agreeable, while FMSO registered slightly higher results for intellect/imagination dimension and on conscientiousness. Next, data analysis (Mann-Whitney test) revealed significant differences in the level of conscientiousness between: Romanian experienced managers (men) and women ESM (p = 0.035), and between experienced sports managers over 40 years of age and ESM between 25 and 40 years (p = 0.020). Men sports managers reported a higher level of self-discipline and are more goal oriented (the influence of cultural factors and social expectations associated with gender were discussed), while considering neuroticism and intellect/imagination sub-scales the differences were almost non-existent, based on ESM’ gender. Also, higher scores for conscientiousness were observed in older sports managers, while no significant differences were found according to managers’ marital status and family situation (with or without children).