Anders Overby is a former biathlete from Norway who’s been coaching for 10 years, including in his practice innovative techniques to assess the personalities of the athletes in his care.

As coach of both Norway’s men’s B team and the Norwegian Paralympic team at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games, Anders stresses the importance of coaches adopting a values-based approach to leadership.

As part of the BIU’s series of interviews on mental health in the sport, we spoke to Anders about the main threats to athletes’ mental health in the sport, and how using a personality test can help him bring the best out of the athletes in his care.

In the interview, Anders explains that such tests are based on typical MAP (Mental Aptitude Profile) tests used by companies as part of their recruitment process. The tests provide information on how we think and act under certain circumstances.

The tests measure subjects according to what Anders calls the ‘Big Five’ criteria: Openness; Conscientiousness; Extroversion; Agreeableness; and Neuroticism. While Anders no longer asks his athletes to take tests, the principles they have established provide him with a useful tool for reflection and thinking.

To listen to the interview, click here. https://youtu.be/B9K1_NNenyo