The 'It' Factor: The Intersection of Leadership and Personality and the Music Ensemble Director's Influence on Member Retention

This predictive correlational study aims to examine the influence of the leadership style and personality traits of music ensemble directors on the retention of students in their programs. The study explores music ensemble directors' leadership qualities and personalities and their ability to maintain student enrollment in their ensembles over the last five years. Participants completed a demographic survey, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, and the NEO-PI-3 Personality Assessment. A convenience sample of music educators provided the data for the study. The researcher compared these results to the participants' leadership and personality identities determined in the initial surveys to establish potential intersections and commonalities. Data analysis identified the characteristics of music ensemble directors possessing the factors that affect student retention. The data examined in this analysis sought to reveal the 'It Factor' that encourages student motivation and persistence in music ensembles. The researcher used SPSS to analyze and compare the data compiled from individual participants to the music ensemble director's leadership skills and personality trait assessments, determining intersections and relationships due to the study's data analysis. These results provide the foundations for the study findings.