World Friendship Day: Are You the “Tina” or the “Mikey” in Your Group?

Ever wondered what your role is within your friendship circle?

This World Friendship Day, explore friendship personality types and see whether you’re more of a Tina or a Mikey.

At Paragon PsychConnect, we often explore the psychology of relationships - especially the subtle dynamics that shape our friendships. And what better occasion than World Friendship Day to celebrate the beautiful, complex roles we all play?

One theme that recently came up in session was the quiet frustration of always being “the organiser.”

“Why do I always have to be the one to suggest catch-ups? No one ever organises anything for me … I feel used.”

This feeling is more common than you’d think. Many people who value connection naturally take on the role of the social planner. They’re the ones nudging the group along, keeping the friendships alive.

But what if this role wasn’t a burden? What if it was a gift?

I shared a story with this client about a friend in our group - Tina. Tina organises about 90% of our outings. Not because she has to, but because she loves it. Choosing the winery, booking the table, deciding the weekend getaway spot - it brings her joy. And truthfully, we’re lucky she does, even if we forget to say thank you.

Tina doesn’t feel taken for granted. She feels fulfilled. She gets to shape the group’s experiences. She’s the glue that holds us together.

But Tina isn’t the only one.

We also have Mikey. Mikey is our go-to snow guy. Every year, he organises our ski trips. He’s a snowboarder and absolutely lives for the snow. He plans the lot - flights, transfers, accommodation. I’ve literally landed in Japan with no idea which island I’m on, what resort we’re staying at, or even which way is up - but I trust Mikey implicitly. He loves organising, and we all benefit from his passion.