Essay on Branched Chain Amino Acids On Sports Performance

With sportsmen seeking alternatives to illegal and unsafe performance enhancing drugs, â€Å"ergogenic aids† have come to their rescue. Ergogenic aids are supplements that enhance the performance of athletes by improving their speed, strength and agility. A number of natural products are marketed as ergogenic aids, which have found a ready market among sportspersons. Their biggest advantage is that they are legal, apart from being safe and effective. Examples of such aids include branched chain amino acids, creatine, medium chain triglycerides, pyruvates and vitamins. I. What are Branched chain amino acids? Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are amino†¦show more content†¦Oxidation of these amino acids occurs in skeletal muscles. Though BCAAs are not used as a source of energy in the body under normal conditions, they do contribute to energy generation during heavy and strenuous exercise. The subsequent breakdown of these amino acids for energy generation during heavy exercise leads to muscle damage and tear. Therefore, restoring them with the help of protein supplements is extremely necessary to make up for the loss of proteins. IV. Effect on athletic performance Innumerable studies have investigated the effects of BCAAs on the performance of athletes. Studies and clinical trials have investigated their potential role in decreasing fatigue, improving physical performance, increasing strength and affecting cognitive abilities. A few of the most significant studies are discussed here. While BCAAs have been found to be of help in enhancing sports performance, there is lack of sufficient evidence from clinical trials. Therefore, while the intake of BCAAs has been proved to be of help in some cases, their overall benefit in enhancement of sports performance is still debated and needs strong evidence. Reduction of fatigue BCAAs are reported to reduce central fatigueShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of A Well Balanced Diet With Adequate Amounts Of Protein897 Words   |  4 PagesProteins are a special nutrient that play an essential role in athletic performance. Unlike carbohydrates and fats, proteins are not considered an immediate source of energy, but they are definitely considered a backup. They are the go to nutrient, â€Å"to help the body build and repair muscles, make red blood cells, maintain enzymes and hormones, and allow hair and fingernails to grow,† (Averbuch Clark, pg.66). It is important that athletes understand the significance of a well-balanced diet withRead MoreSports Nutrition Essay1259 Words   |  6 PagesSupplements like whey protein, creatine, caffeine, and branched chain amino acids have allowed athletes to surpass limiting plateaus and reach new heights with respect to physical conditioning and mental awareness. Whey protein provides protein, which is an importan t macronutrient that serves as a building block for muscles. Creatine is a relatively new supplement that allows muscles to utilize more ATP and thus increase the endurance of muscle. Amino acid supplements provide an important source of micronutrientsRead MoreUnique Amino Acid Requirements in Endurance Athletes1529 Words   |  6 Pagesthe field of sports nutrition that focus on proteins and specific amino acid pathways and how they relate to muscle synthesis and degradation. Research on resistance training and amino acids is quite thorough but is lacking in regards to endurance exercise and amino acids. High-intensity endurance training is important to improve the physical performance of athletes and requires amino acids as an energy substrate. Because high amounts of energy are required during training, amino acid supplementationRead MoreThe Role Of Nutrition On Martial Arts, Police And Military Personnel Essay1923 Words   |  8 PagesWill Brink For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played a prominent role in the life of many martial artists, police, and military personnel as a means of improving performance. Top athletes are always looking for an edge. Although the martial arts are more of a way of life and a life style than a sport per se, the needs of the martial artist are the same as that of the elite athlete. Mental aspects not withstanding (i.e. mental awareness, strategy, cunning, etc.), the need for speedRead MoreThe Health Fitness Human Performance Essay1498 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Fitness Human Performance One of the most important parts of an athlete’s training regime is nutrition because of its role in human performance. Athletes need to focus on nutrition because the failure to ingest adequate calories can contribute to a lack of vital macro and micro nutrients. Moreover, nutrition is a crucial element in any athlete’s training regime given the influences of food on a person’s physical mankind. Throughout history, certain foods have been regarded as essentialRead MoreSports Nutrition: The Study and Practice of Nutrition and Diet1211 Words   |  5 PagesSports nutrition is the study and practice of nutrition and diet as it relates to athletic performance. It is concerned with the type and quantity of fluid and food taken by an athlete, and deals with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, supplements and organic substances such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is essential to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet combined with athletic training to r each maximum performance potential. â€Å"Nutrient timing is a strategic approach to how muchRead MoreThe Effects Of Workout Supplements On Young Adults1406 Words   |  6 Pagestheir body – because exercise without the aid of enhancers may require a longer waiting period before an individual can see results. Workout supplements can come in the name of pre-workout supplement, also know as PWS, post-workout supplements, Amino Acids, Creatine, BCAA, and Protein, these are amid the most popular supplements to take. Pre-workout supplements are usually in powder form and are mixed in water to create a drink, they typically come in sweet flavors, such as, watermelon, mango, fruitRead MoreAn Individual Nutritional Performance Plan For An Elite Football Player3049 Words   |  13 PagesLiban Aweis Mude An individual nutritional performance plan for an elite football player Tottenham Hotspur Foundation – THF201410 Word Count: 2397 Friday 3rd April 2015 Fundamentals of Football Fitness Nutrition Introduction In this case-study, the focus point will be the nutritional discipline followed by elite footballers, the reasoning why and benefits adjacent. Looking into greater detail, a selected professional football athlete will be taken into consideration and the focal points surroundingRead MoreA Short Note On The Energy Drink Industry996 Words   |  4 Pages Energy drinks are part of the broader soft drink category, which includes carbonated beverages, fruit and vegetable juices, bottle water, sports drinks, beverages concentrates, ready-to-drink tea, and ready-to-drink coffee (Fontinelle). Because there are so many companies competing for the top spot for the best energy drink, it is hard for small and new companies to compete. There are challengers amongst competitors as far as distribution, obtaining shelf space, and offering something unique fromRead MoreErgogenic Aids Essay3570 Words   |  15 Pagesenhance energy production, for use for recovery and provide athletes with a competi tive advantage. Numerous ergogenic aids claim to enhance sports performance and are used by amateur and professional athletes. Approximately 50 percent of the general population has reported taking some form of dietary supplements, while 76 to 100 percent of athletes in some sports are reported to use them. Physicians can evaluate these products by examining four factors (method of action, available research, adverse

Teenage Pregnancy Amongst Blacks and Hispanic Teenagers

Teenage Pregnancies among Blacks and Hispanics 11/09/2012 Tina Trent TEENAGE PREGNANCY AMONG BLACK amp; HISPANIC GIRLS Birth rates in African American and Hispanic teens are substantially higher than whites, a trend that has persisted for decades. Even though pregnancy rates among teens are at an all time low. It is still a major issue but mostly affecting the urban communities. In this research paper I will be comparing and demonstrating the relationships between teenage pregnancy, social issues, and education. Teen pregnancy is still a major issue regardless of the declining pregnancy rate. In 2006 birthrates among teenage girls age ranging from 15-17 were more than 3 times as high as†¦show more content†¦According to an article I read stated that adolescence become parents because their educational experiences show little or no promise. It is suggested that identifying young girls with academic and social emotional difficulties early on and intervening could have a positive impact on reversing teen adolescent behaviors such as teen pregnancy. (Goddings, Anne-Lise1,2 Burnett Heyes, Stephanie2,3,4 Bird, Geoffrey2,5 Viner, Russell M.1 Blakemore, Sarah-Jayne, 2002) In conclusion according to the data that was obtained it seems that both women are led to believe they are less than the white race per se. They are led to believe that it is natural to be looked at as statistics in society. These young women have lack of education on top of it all and need to be taught not only the pr oper skills needed to prevent pregnancy but taught that they are better than statistics and can excel at anything any other race can. As parent and teachers we need to spend more time with our children so they are not out engaging in negative risky behaviors. It is our responsibility! We are the adults, not the children. We must not wait until it is to late. It has become critical that we look into the underlying reasons so that we can get a better handle on this matter. TINA TRENT Bibliography Huberty, J., Siahpush, M., Beighle, A., Fuhrmeister, E.,Show MoreRelatedTeen Pregnancy And The Teenage Pregnancy Rates2094 Words   |  9 PagesPregnancy and parenthood is a significantly life- altering event that anyone could experience. These two life events inquire not only physical but mental obstacles. What happens when these events occur when your body is not physically developed and your mental maturity is not fully ripened? This happens too often amongst the teen age population. In the United States, teen pregnancies are the highest when compared to other developed countries. Teen births account for 10% of all births in the UnitedRead MoreTeen Pregnancy And Teenage Pregnancy2011 Words   |  9 Pagesbiggest problems among teenagers is teen pregnancy. Throughout high school and college, teenagers are getting pregnant at an age they are incapable of taking care of a child. Along with hearing about teens getting pregnant, television shows are displaying it to you like 16 and Pregnant. Though the pregnancy rates have fallen over previous years, the United States still has the highest rates than any other Western industrialized country. Along with the teen pregnancies comes sexually transmittedRead MoreIncreased Rates of Teen Pregnancy among Minorities1547 Words   |  6 PagesIncreased rates of teen pregnancy among minorities The incidence of teen births in the United States has reached a historic all time low throughout the last couple of years but teen girls are still giving birth to 1700 babies a week. However, minorities are still amongst the highest group of teenagers having children among the age group between 15 and 19 years of age. The highest ethnic groups were comprised of Hispanics and Non-Hispanic blacks making up 57% of all US teen births in 2011, accordingRead MoreCassidy Reid . Kendra Gallos. English Iii Honors . 27 March1800 Words   |  8 PagesEnglish III Honors 27 March 2017 How to Reduce Teenage Pregnancy in America A nightmare can strike, even when the eyes of it’s victims are wide open. It can be unexpected, terrifying, a nightmare to see the dreaded two lines on the test- especially as a teenager. Even if teenagers are old enough to decide whether or not they want to engage in sexual intercourse, the rate of teenage pregnancy should be reduced as much as possible. Teenage pregnancy is not only expensive, but also puts the lives ofRead MoreLife of a Teenager7946 Words   |  32 PagesThe Effects of Teenage Relationships Different relationships affect teenagers in various ways. Friends impact teenagers almost the same amount as their parents. Teenagers go to their friends for help or to ask questions that they could not ask their parents about. Most of the time their friends give them good advice but then there is the down side when they put pressure on their friends to do something like to smoke, drink, and do drugs. In most cases they tell their friends how to dress and actRead MoreEssay on Abstinence-Only Sex Education does work.1332 Words   |  6 PagesAbstinence-only Sex Education does work. Teenage sexual activity has sparked an outcry within the nation. With such activity comes a high price. Studies have shown that there has been a significant rise in the number of children with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological problems, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Sex has always been discussed publically by the media, television shows, music and occasionally by parents and teachers in educational context. Teens hear themRead MorePsychosocial Development and the Effects of Teenage Pregnancy3953 Words   |  16 PagesPsychosocial Development and the Effects of Teenage Pregnancy Liberty University Abstract An estimated 400,000 teen girls, ages 15-19 years, give birth each year in the US. In today’s media sexual activity and teen parenting is often glamorize, but the truth of the matter is the reality is harshly different. Having a child during the teen’s formative years carries the high price of emotional, physical, and financial, not only to the mother, but father, child, and community. Parents, educatorsRead MoreThe New York City As A Major Obstacle For Receiving Quality Health Care3141 Words   |  13 PagesIntroduction New York City is composed of some of the world’s most unique and eccentric neighborhoods the world has ever seen. Amongst these neighborhoods, one can expect to find Bushwick (Community District 4) and Williamsburg (Community District 1), nestled in in the northern tip of Brooklyn borough. The earliest colonizers included the Dutch, French, Scandinavians, and English farmers. Today, however, the spectrum of racial distribution has changed drastically in which the top ethnic groups includeRead MorePremarital Sex And Its Effect On Society2946 Words   |  12 PagesImagine a situation where a young teenage girl has premarital sex due to the influence of her friends and ends up pregnant. Her friends blame her for getting pregnant and her boyfriend leaves her, pregnant and alone. She is ridiculed, talked about and has to walk the halls at school with the evidence under her shirt while her ex walks around like nothing happened. Society views sex as an average thing for people to d o when they are single, young and have no responsibilities. Premarital sex is oftenRead MoreSocial Inequality : Inequality And Inequality3119 Words   |  13 Pageschecking the same number of boxes on a form. They were likewise asked questions about which groups they principally identified with. They were then classified as relating to a group, the researchers had assigned as having a generally low economic status (black or Latino), a moderately high societal position, (Asian or white), or numerous groups (for instance, highly contrasting or multiracial ) (LaPlante, 2009). The individuals who identified with various groups announced either equivalent or higher mental

Language Arts Development Argumentative Essay Example For Students

Language Arts Development Argumentative Essay Reading begins early in childhood and usually begins with a child learning to agonize things such as store names, signs, logos, and advertisement images. This form of reading is known as viewing. The child begins to associate the letters, logos, or images With the name Of What they are seeing. This in turn leads to the child to being able to recognize the word or name out of the normal context in Which they are accustomed. This is also used as children enter into school and the use of sight words begins. Students are shown flash cards with words and the students begin to recognize the letters that form the words on the cards and then begin to recognize them other places such as books or magazines. This helps to build the critical thinking skills that they will need in order to comprehend what they read later, Once the student begins to make the association between letters and words, they begin to understand the sounds of the letters. This is when phonics begins to be a skill the student needs to master. Learning the sounds of each individual letter, and then how to blend those sounds to make words is a necessary step in language arts development. Parents and teachers need to embrace this time in the students learning by reading with the child as much as possible. Making sure that the books are challenging the student is also important. Challenging material encourages the student to use the critical thinking skills that they have learned to decode the words and gain comprehension. It is important that the material be hard enough to challenge the student but not so hard as to make the student feel defeated by its complexity. In the classroom, students begin learning to ready by using decidable readers, books that contain early sight words or words that are easy to sound out using their phonics skills. As the student begins to gain knowledge about sounds and meanings, the books will move to longer, more complex sentences. At this point heir comprehension is also expanding. After students master short readers, they move to more complex short chapter books, and then the natural progression to regular chapter books. At each step, the teacher makes sure to give the students a good foundation to build upon, exposing them to many different types of reading, such as poetry, biography, and fiction. The students learn to take the knowledge that they already have and use the knowledge as a background for new words or concepts that they run into while reading. The next concept is that of writing. It goes hand in hand with reading due to he tact that it a student cannot recognize the letters needed to read a word, they will not be able to reproduce those letters to put them into print. As a student learns to read, their ability to write using more expressive and colorful vocabulary in communicating ideas grows. Reading and writing can be taught separately or simultaneously, depending on the level of the children being taught, As with speaking, writing is a form of communication that students should become proficient. Teachers should offer as many opportunities as possible for students to practice their emerging writing skills. There are many different ways that this can be done in the classroom. If the teacher uses learning Centers, then there should be one that incorporates writing practice. In the early years, this can be something simple like a letter tracing sheet or copying spelling words to gain proficiency. In upper elementary grades, having the students write short stories about things that interest them can give a students not only writing practice, but can also build vocabulary and grammar skills as well. The important thing is to give students many opportunities to grow their writing skills. Speaking, like reading. S something that begins early in a childs life. .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e , .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .postImageUrl , .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e , .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:hover , .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:visited , .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:active { border:0!important; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:active , .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue86bd19e0ac305424beae4a73799621e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: They Are Similar Antz EssayWith the coos that express happiness and the cries that let us know they are not happy, babies learn to vocally communicate from birth. As a child grows, their ways of expressing themselves matures. No longer are they making nonsense sounds, they are forming sounds that take the shape of recognizable words, That is why it is so important for parents and caregivers to talk to children as often as they can. The child begins to mimic the speech that they hear and begin to form more complex groups towards and eventually using tulle sentences to convey their wants and needs. Although a child can speak and not be able to read or write, it is that ability and desire to communicate that pushes a student to learn to read and write, that ability that lets them express themselves in many different aspects of the language arts. One of the easiest ways to help a student learn proper speaking skills is to model those skills that are being taught. A student is more likely to mimic speech patterns and sentence structure from someone whom they respect than they are to simply learn those skills from a book or worksheet Another thing that can help in the classroom is to hue the students read aloud. This gives them practice with forming words correctly and achieving speaking fluently. This also helps by giving the teacher an immediate opportunity to offer help With areas that a student may be struggling with, always with a caring attitude. Children also have to learn to be active listeners. As their Other skills develop, listening takes on a whole new challenge. Now the student is not just hearing words, but as they are exposed to higher levels Of reading and vocabulary, listening becomes another form of communication. Listening is more than just hearing what is being spoken; it is the ability to understand what is being said. If a student who only speaks English hears a conversation in Spanish but has no background in that language, there will be little to no understanding as to what is being said therefore no communication. They hear what is being said hut cannot decode the speech patterns or vocabulary. That can also be said for everyday speech. Listening is an activity of the mind, Students have to be taught how to be good listeners. They are told trot an early age to put on their listening ears. By listening, the student learns speech patterns, rhythms, vocabulary, and sentence structure. It is important that parents, caregivers, and teachers model DOD listening practices with the children in their lives. Listening to an adult read can help a student who is struggling with onwards or can help a student who is having trouble understanding other concepts. Listening is harder for some students than it is for others. There are many things that the teacher can do to help students become good listeners. Listening games are one way for students to practice listening. Games such as Simon Says are a fun way for students to learn about being active listeners. Also having students draw a picture from prompts given by the teacher audibly can help foster listening skills. Or older elementary students, teachers can have the students write a brief summary or review of material that is either read aloud or passages that are heard on tapes or CDC. Viewing is another form of language arts that needs to be properly developed. Viewing is a visual and auditory process. This includes live performances such as dance, orchestra/opera performances, or theater. This can also include motion pictures, television, and media found on the internet or DVD. Students learn higher level critical thinking skills when they are exposed to this type of information. They learn how to take what they see and hear and gain understanding and learning. This is an easy thing to use in the classroom, Teachers can have students view the movie representation of a recently read book, work on educational website, research topics that interest them, or view a video that corresponds with the days science lesson. .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff , .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .postImageUrl , .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff , .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:hover , .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:visited , .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:active { border:0!important; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:active , .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u420e6d69317028699d416a18b76bc2ff:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Drug Abuse in America EssayWith the vast amount of media that is available to teacher, there is always a way to incorporate viewing into the classroom. Visual representation is the use of pictures, diagrams, maps, or drawings to communicate. Many times in early elementary, reading books for emerging readers will use overdo and pictures to communicate a message. A sentence will e written with words and also have a picture that represents one of the words to help the student with new vocabulary or a word that is hard to understand. For instance, the sentence may be The dog jumped over the cat. Using visual representation, the word dog and cat may be left out and a picture of a dog replaces the word dog or in conjunction with the word. The same is used for the word cat. This helps the student make the connection With the picture and the written word. As a student becomes more confident, the use of these types Of sentences lessens. Another form Of visual representation is books With illustrations. Often times, when a student is struggling with context, the use of the illustrations can help the student comprehend What is being read and can also help with understanding new or challenging words. As teachers, it is our jobs to make sure that students have a firm solid grasp of the language arts. As this paper shows, no one area is more important than the others. They are building blocks and all are needed to form a good foundation to reading, writing, and communications skills. As students mature and grow, if they are nurtured in these areas, they will become adults who find enjoyment and ability in reading and communicating.

Organizational Behavior Mid Term Essay Example

Organizational Behavior Mid Term Essay ASSIGNMENT FRONT COVER | | | |Module name: Class # 790 – Organizational Behavior | |Assignment title: Midterm Exam | |Assignment deadline: November 12th 2012 | |Effective number of words used: 1471 | | Table of Contents Question 1: Understanding Human Behavior is critical to organizations – discuss the benefits of self evaluation/self assessment as it relates to leaders today . †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 Question 2: Prejudice can be hurtful and destructive – discuss how you can personally reduce prejudice in your workplace – please provide an example †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5 References and Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 Question 1: Understanding Human Behavior is critic al to organizations – discuss the benefits of self evaluation/self assessment as it relates to leaders today In today’s ever changing environment, organizations need to continuously adapt and transform, not only in order to succeed but even just to survive. While it takes a capable manager to efficiently run a business in steady-state, it takes a leader to successfully drive an organization through change (Kotter in Robbins and Judge, 2009: 385). Dealing with technology, economic and legislation changes isn’t new for organizations. The speed of change has however substantially increased in the last few decades as has the disruptive nature of these changes. We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Behavior Mid Term specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Behavior Mid Term specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Behavior Mid Term specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Leaders today are faced with challenges such as globalization and instant communication that were not present until recently. The words and actions of leaders are broadcasted across the globe within seconds and are heard and seen by individuals who will perceive and interpret them through the filter of their own values, assumptions, beliefs and expectations. In this accelerated environment, effective leaders need to be able to swiftly read trends and anticipate change, adapt to new situations, fine-tune their actions and continuously inspire others towards the pursuit of a compelling vision. In order to do so, they need to be perceptive of the environment around them and detect when discrepancies between their assumptions and reality arise (Clawson, 2001: 14). An example of business failure due to the mismatch between leader’s assumptions and environmental reality is Polaroid. When in 1977 Polaroid launched its instant-video product Polavision (an innovative instant movie camera that used an additive process to generate color), it experienced the first of several product failures that eventually forced the company into bankruptcy. The mistake that Polaroid’s Leader Edwin H. Land made was to assume that the market-follows-technology approach that had been successful for the previous 40 years was unchangeably valid (Lefler, 2010), despite the skepticism expressed by many within the company. Simpler and cheaper videocassette based alternatives were released at the same time by Kodak and other competitors. These â€Å"non-instant† products responded to markets’ trends better than Polaroid’s ground breaking instant-video solution, condemning Polavision to irrelevance and Polaroid to massive losses (Giambarba, 1977). I think Polavision is the story of a self awareness lacking leader, failing to identify his blind spots and driving the organization to failure. In my opinion Mr. Land failed to question his assumption in a changing marketplace and to openly listen to others, consequently ignoring precious feedback. Had Mr. Land listened to the concerns expressed by others around him, including Polaroid’s president Bill McCune, things could have possibly gone differently. Self evaluation is what allows individuals to identify those blind spots and weaknesses and to put measures in place to compensate them (Musselwhite, C. 2007). Through self evaluation, self awareness is achieved. The benefits of self evaluation and self awareness for a leader in today’s organizations are significant. By understanding your strengths, efforts can be focused on them, hence developing a greater potential for success (Roberts at all, 2005: 1). By recognizing your weaknesses you are in a better position to a ccept them and deal with them effectively. In the case of Polavision, Mr Land’s product and technology strengths were overshadowed by his marketing weakness. For his leadership to be effective, Mr. Land should have commissioned a market research to validate his assumption that the public was ready and willing to consume the product he was developing. Self awareness is the basis of self management and social awareness (Goleman, 2000; 80). The ability to read and manage your emotions, reactions and feelings, helps seeing yourself and the world under a different light. This in turns enables you to shift your point of view and identify opportunities and solutions that were otherwise impossible to imagine (Covey, 1989: 86). In the case of Polaroid a more socially aware Mr. Land would have valued the input of the Polavision skeptics and maybe redirected his creativity towards developing a product more in line with current market trends. Moreover, acknowledging your limits and not hiding them induces trust. You are perceived as human and people relate to you better. When trusted, you become a more effective leader as people feel safe when they follow your direction. Your behavior remains consistent in different situations and the influence of the environment on your actions is weakened. You develop charisma. You become authentic (George, B. et all, 2007: 7). Self evaluation implies asking for feedback and actively listening to what you hear. As you learn from asking questions, people around you also feel more comfortable doing so. This ignites a virtuous learning circle that drives personal growth. The biggest asset of organizations is their human capital. An engaged, motivated and virtuous human capital is the engine behind organizations’ success. In particular, by developing an environment where it is OK to ask questions, to challenge status-quo, to try new things and to make mistakes, innovation forces are unleashed (Musselwhite, C. , 2007). Conclusion Self Evaluation develops self awareness. Self awareness promotes personal growth and enables behaviors that are associated with charismatic leadership. Charisma is what inspires others to follow the leader. They trust her, share her vision and feel empowered and motivated to work towards a common goal. Charisma is a crucial element of effective leadership, but it is often not sufficient to drive organizations, particularly large ones, to sustainable success (Nadler and Tushman, 1990: 85). Self awareness developed through self evaluation, allows a leader to also understand and address this. By recognizing her limits, a self aware leader will develop an organizational structure that complements her strengths and, through alignment, effectively works towards the set vision. The most prominent benefits of self assessment for leaders today in my opinion are therefore the enablement of charismatic and institutional leadership, both of which are necessary to effectively guide an organization. Question 2: Prejudice can be hurtful and destructive – discuss how you can personally reduce prejudice in your workplace – please provide an example Prejudice (prior judgment[1]) implies forming an opinion about the personality traits, expected behavior, skills and capability of a person, without that opinion being backed by empirical evidence. These pre-formed opinions are often very strong, deriving from values and beliefs that are deeply embedded in our psyche. As such they are hard to remove. We may even unconsciously reject evidence negating the pre-judgment in a self affirming effort to confirm our assumptions. The end result is a diminished ability to appreciate the full range of qualities and the potential of the impacted individual. Prejudice and the corresponding discriminatory behavior, including institutional prejudice, are major issues for organizations today. Increasing cultural diversity in the workforce and the global reach of markets require organizations to actively strive for integration rather than assimilation or differentiation (Thomas Ely, 1996: 1). In my opinion, the onus of promoting an effort in that direction lies mostly on managers. As a manager I have a moral and professional duty to address prejudice in my organization and I have taken specific steps in that sense. I started with doing introspection to identify my own prejudices. I focused on my upbringing: who were the most influential figures in my childhood? What messaging did I receive from them and from the environment around me? What stereotypes derived from this? Being of white, catholic and Italian origin, I could immediately identify how anything outside of that archetype, was subject to some degree of prejudice, even if involuntarily. The good news is that â€Å"Prejudice is externally sourced† and â€Å"since it s learned, it can be unlearned† (Clawson, J. G. Smith, B. , 1990: 5-6). I then realized that most likely everyone in my work environment have similar preconceptions. For example, some people talk to me with the typical Italian-American mafia accent from The Sopranos[2] probably thinking it is hilarious. It doesn’t bother me, but I can definitely see how it could be bothersome to other Italians. I made treasure of these realizations and determined that these are ignorance-based preconceptions that can be resolved by increasing inter-cultural knowledge. I therefore resolved to take steps to encourage people from different backgrounds and cultures to interact with each other. For example, recently I included two international team members (Bryan the reporting manager who is Chinese and Manish the systems analyst who is Indian) in a 4 person project team based in the US Midwest, dealing with the integration of systems and processes from our Company’s latest acquisition. I personally facilitated the first few meetings and encouraged open participation by listening to and publicly valuing everyone’s contribution. I then assigned tasks in a way that required interaction and cooperation. The effort paid off and the team succeeded. The system and process integration was completed in record time, with wide consensus and to the smallest details. References and Bibliography Books Robbins, S. P. Judge, T. A. (2009). Organizational Behavior. 13th Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people. USA: Free Press. Internet Resources Lefler, P. (2010). Polavision Polaroids disruptive innovation failure. [Webpage] Available from: http://www. spruancegroup. com/blog/bid/32860/Polavision-Polaroid-s-disruptive-innovation-failure [Accessed on Wednesday, November 7th 2012]. Giambarba, P. (1977). [Webpage] Available from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Polavision [Accessed on Wednesday, November 7th 2012]. Musselwhite, C. (2007). Self Awareness and the Effective Leader. [Webpage] Available from: http://www. inc. com/resources/leadership/articles/20071001/musselwhite. html [Accessed on Wednesday, November 7th 2012]. The Online Etymology Dictionary, word search: prejudice. [Webpage] Available from: http://www. etymonline. com/index. php? term=prejudice [Accessed on Thursday, November 8th 2012]. Wikipedia, word search: the sopranos. [Webpage] Available from: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Sopranos [Accessed on Friday, November 9th 2012]. Journal Articles and Written Course Material Roberts, L. M. , Spreitzer, G. , Dutton, J. , Quinn, R. , Heaphy, E. , and Barker, B. (2005), â€Å"How to Play to Your Strenghts†, Harvard Business Review, January 2005. Goleman, D, (2000), â€Å"Leadership that gets results†, Harvard Business Review, March-April 2000. Clawson, J. G. 2001) UVA-OB-0652 Leadership and Intelligence, Charlottesville: University of Virginia Darden School Foundation. George, B. , Sims, P. , McLean, A. N. , and Mayer, D. (2007), â€Å"Discovering Your Authentic Leadership†, Harvard Business Review, February 2007. Nadler, D. A. , Tushman, M. L. , (1990) CMR-024 Beyond the Charismatic Leader: Leadership and Organizational Change, Calif ornia Management Review, Harvard Business School Publishing. Clawson, J. G. Smith, B. (1990) UVA-OB-0381 Prejudice in Organizations, Charlottesville: University of Virginia Darden School Foundation. Thomas, D. A. Ely, R. J. (1996), â€Å"Making Differences Matter†, Harvard Business Review, September-October 1996. [1] See the â€Å"Online Etymology Dictionary† (http://www. etymonline. com/index. php? term=prejudice) [2] From Wikipedia (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Sopranos): The Sopranos is an American television drama created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads.