In this episode of the Emerging Excellence Podcast, join us as we dive into the complexities of teamwork with Katie Crawford, an academic and mental performance coach for the Bath Premier League rugby academy team.

Katie shares her journey from Canada, her rich sports background, and her father's influence as a pro ice hockey coach. Explore her recently published paper on teamwork, which examines how coaches optimize teamwork in sports, the role of athlete autonomy, and managing competition within teams.

Discover how these insights can be applied to a corporate context and enhance team performance. Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable takeaways for leaders and team players alike!

00:00 Welcome to the Emerging Excellence Podcast

01:06 Katie's Journey to Bath and Teamwork Expertise

01:52 Diving into Teamwork Research

02:45 Katie's Background and Sports Influence

05:45 Exploring the Teamwork Paper

06:55 Measuring and Optimizing Teamwork

10:17 Key Themes in Teamwork Optimization

13:21 Crafting a Teamwork Recipe

14:04 Forming Strong Interpersonal Connections

15:12 Managing Team Dynamics and Competition

32:45 The Role of a Coach in Team Dynamics

37:12 Navigating Favoritism in Teams

43:34 Maximizing Teamwork in Action

45:06 Managing Competition and Player Motivation

47:13 The Importance of Honest Feedback

01:01:11 Empowering Athlete Autonomy

01:05:08 Final Thoughts on Teamwork and Leadership