5.3

JPT Research Digest

The making of college student leaders: Implementing reflective practices for self-awareness of personality traits and leadership styles


Gurrola, V. (2022).
The making of college student leaders: Implementing reflective practices for self-awareness of personality traits and leadership styles (Action Research Project No. 102).
University of San Diego.

The purpose of this research study was to explore how student leaders’ self-awareness of their leadership styles changed through engaging in self-reflection. This project was a small qualitative study including 4 student participants that provided the MBTI® instrument with feedback results and leadership. Participants completed two surveys and an interview. The research questions were: (1) What do students know about their personality and leadership style after having taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) instrument, and (2) Can engaging in self-reflection impact leadership?

Students shared that they learned how certain aspects of their personality dominate their lives, saw how they go about leadership in different ways, realized why they prefer to be around different people with varying traits and the value of that, rediscovered their strengths and weaknesses and why awareness and self-improvement are important, and provided insight on who they are as a leader and how it drives them.

This study showed that engaging in self-reflection can and does impact leadership. One participant stated, "I would say that I am more confident in my leadership because I know a huge part of it is my personality and I never want to change who I truly am." Another student shared, "I think that I am more observant on the leadership styles of others and how that influences the dynamic of the team." A third participant felt that participating influenced their leadership because it pointed out strengths and weaknesses. Results indicate that participants confidently articulated their leadership style, engaged in more self-reflection, increased self-awareness, and enhanced leadership development.


ARTICLE PERMALINK: https://www.myersbriggs.org/research-and-library/journal-psychological-type/the-making-of-college-student-leaders/

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Journal of Psychological Type® Research Digest (JPT-RD) is made available through Myers & Briggs Foundation, worldwide publisher. The editorial team includes Kesstan Blandin, PhD, Yvonne Nelson-Reid, PhD, Logan Abbitt, MLIS, and Purnima Sims.

For inquiries about accessing original articles, contact library@myersbriggs.org.

Myers & Briggs Foundation carries the legacy of Isabel Briggs Myers and the MBTI® instrument through our mission to educate the public about psychological type—including its ethical, meaningful, and practical applications—and to conduct research on psychological type and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI) instrument. The JPT-RD, published annually, is a publication that highlights research and ideas in the field of psychological type, the MBTI Instrument, and Jungian thought.

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