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October 5, 2008 ( PowerHomeBiz
) - Kennesaw, GA --
Even if you are not a sports fan, it’s been difficult avoiding NBC’s
unprecedented coverage of the 29th Olympics in China. Despite the fact that
many skeptics wondered if NBC was crazy transmitting 3,600 hours of Olympic
television and web cast coverage, the peacock network has struck gold. This
Olympics’ Nielsen ratings have far outpaced the viewer ship of the previous
summer Olympics in Greece, and its numbers are second only to this year’s
Super Bowl. These Olympics have not disappointed for a variety of reasons;
here are just two.
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First, the Beijing Olympics remind us of the value of competition.
Although a few select events have been won easily by a dominant individual
or team (see Usain Bolt in the Men’s 100 Meter Dash), the victor has often
been unknown until the last seconds of most events. Arguably the most
enduring image of this Olympics is Michael Phelps, the winner of eight gold
medals in Bejing, celebrating with his teammates when the U.S. Men’s swim
team came from seemingly certain defeat to out-touch France at the wall in
the 4 x 100 Men’s freestyle relay. In short, competition affords its
participants the ability to definitively measure one’s performance.
Second, the Bejing Olympics remind us of the value of cooperation.
Name any other event in existence today where 202 nations meet and follow
the same set of rules for two weeks. You can’t. As Baron Pierre de Coubertin,
the French enthusiast that helped resurrect the modern Olympic Games, stated
in 1896, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but
to take part” (Uschan, 2000, p. 8). Indeed, each Olympiad provides a
snapshot of what can be accomplished when nations choose to agree, rather
than disagree. (As a reminder, these events occurred against the backdrop of
Russia’s invasion of Georgia.) In short, cooperation is the foundation of
progress.
Competition and cooperation: Two reasons why these Olympics have drawn a
record-breaking audience and two powerful tools for any CEO or manager
focused on increasing company production and profits in these challenging
economic times.
Dr. Philip Aust is a professor at Kennesaw State University (KSU).
He teaches Organizational Communication Audits, Leadership, Training and
Development, and Research Methods in the Department of Communication at KSU.
Dr. Aust’s research focuses on leadership in organizational, group, and
interpersonal contexts. He examines emerging leadership perspectives,
messages associated with productivity and task quality, and leader
performance. He has authored and co-authored book chapters and articles
published in such journals as Communication Studies, Basic Communication
Course Annual, and Communication Teacher.
Dr. Aust regularly conducts
communication consultations for profit and non-profit Atlanta-based
companies. He has worked with over 25 companies in the last three years.
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