NUTR/PE 446 - Sports Nutrition and Weight Control

David L. Gee, PhD

Effective Teams - Ergogenic Aid Project

In the 'real world' workplace, employees are frequently required to work in teams on complex projects.  Employers frequently rate 'Team-building Skills" as one of the highest characteristics of entry-level employees.  Working on a team may seem natural on an athletic venue, but team-work often seems unnatural in an academic setting or in a workplace.  Working on a team for this project has often led to frustration and disappointment for some members.  The Ergogenic Aid Project was assigned as a team project to give students an opportunity to work as a team.  In addition, team members can learn from each other, help each other interpret difficult to understand  research articles, help find research articles, write and proof-read papers, and put together a professional presentation.  Unfortunately, often teams are just a collection of students who get assigned a part of the project and work completely independently of each other.  This often results in papers and presentations that are disjointed, of varied quality, and sometimes of low overall quality.

Research of effective teams has identified factors characteristic of successful teams (derived from Ahles & Bosworth, J. Mass Communication Educator, p42-59, 2004).  I have added how these characteristics apply to this project.

A clear elevating goal.  Elevating here means that the sum of your efforts is greater than the parts.  Teammates drive each other to achieve excellence beyond what they might do by themselves.

A results-driven structure.  Activites and assignments are made to specifically achieve excellence.  Teams need to set deadlines throughout the project, not just at the end.  Assignments are made that put individuals in areas that they are the strongest.

Competent team members.  Team members will not be equally competent here, nor are they in the workplace.  Putting people in areas that they feel most competent is important.  Good writers should do much of the writing.  Good speakers should do the presentation.

Unified committment.  Team members should have similar expectations of what kind of grade they want out of this project and this class.  It is easy to say they want an A.  Is everybody committed to putting in the work to get that grade?  It is easy and convenient to organize a group of friends or people you have in other classes.  But if everybody does not have the same level of committment, frustration will result.

Collaborative climate.  Team members obviously need to work together.  At the same time, when one member is struggling, others need to help out.  Having frequent meetings helps identify problem areas early and fosters a collaborative climate.

Standards of excellence.  All team members need to seek a certain level of excellence.  Team members need to support each other, but also need to demand that all members meet that level of excellence.

Principled leadership.  All teams, athletic or workplace teams, have leaders.  One or two members of each team will likely emerge as leaders in running meetings.  Work assignments made by the leaders or the group should be fair and allow members to succeed.

Hopefully these pointers will help make this team project rewarding and meaningful and result in a professional level summary paper and presentation.  Groups should discuss these characteristics at their first meeting.