It is the last couple of overs. The match is tight. There aren’t enough balls remaining to score the required runs. As the pressure starts to build, the foot stomps and thunderous cheers of fans reverberate across the stadium boosting the confidence of the ‘men in blue.’ One glance at the throng of fans and cheerleaders is enough to set the adrenaline racing for the players. Such is the potential of a home crowd cheering for their favourite team.
And while you may be cheering for the India Cricket Team this World Cup, have you ever wondered, how you can be a cheerleader at work too? You may wonder how incorporating a dance routine carrying pom-poms can be effective at the workplace but we are talking about celebrating the small successes at work.
Encouragement is a bigger motivator than censure. So read on to find out how you too can inspire your team to reach new heights, just like your favourite cricket team.
• Synergy in work
Cheerleading allows young dancers to develop trust in others through stunt routines and it gives them a chance to build characteristic traits such as teamwork. Individual commitment to a group effort is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. In a corporate setting, teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, which leads to people achieving uncommon results.
• Help beat the blues
Stress is a part of our daily lives. Therefore, keeping it at bay is key to mental wellbeing. In cricket, when a team is on a losing spree, the players could become stressed and lose confidence, dipping their performance further. But often we see, how support from the crowd and cheering fans have motivated players to achieve the impossible on the field – grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat.
The same applies in a corporate setting. When someone in your team is struggling with stress or performance issues, you can become the motivator, and the cheerleader for your team and help them regain faith in their abilities. Talk to them and help them see the positive in the situation or focus on their strengths. A good word, at the right time, can go a long way in pulling a team member out of the blues.
• Constant communication
On and off field communication is the key to success for a sports team. Senior players often advise young players on how to approach the game and life in general. Constant communication is key to an organistion’s success. Every business organisation, large or small in size, is held together by communication. When the company clearly communicates the values and goals of the company, employees are better able to reflect those qualities as they represent the company.
• Unconditional support
Like any other team, the Indian Cricket Team may lose some matches in the World Cup. However, that does not mean fans stop supporting them. A crucial part of being a cheerleader is supporting your team no matter what the result. The consistent and unconditional support of the cheerleader is what brings a team out of the most challenging situations, be it in cricket or at work . Be unconditional, be consistent, and be the supportive cheerleader that every team needs.
• Responsibility
Every single member of a cheerleading team is responsible for the final outcome that they produce. Even if one dancer is on the fault, the whole performance collapses. Likewise every employee is in charge to carry out the job sincerely. Whatever your strengths, you have something valuable to offer. Find a role within your team that allows you to do what you do well. This will help you make a meaningful contribution – and increase your chances of doing a great job. Plus, it’s usually much easier, and more satisfying, to do tasks when you’re naturally good at them.
• Source of positivity
A cheerleader is a constant source of positivity and energy. In the World Cup or at office, there is always a need for optimism to lift spirits when things don’t go as planned. It is this unwavering positivity that strengthens self-belief, which can turn a match around. The same positive energy can help with employee morale as well and can help them deliver some of their best works. Be this source of positivity for your team. Especially in times of tight deadlines.
Whether it is the cricket stadium or the office, the rules of teamwork and the need for motivation remain the same. Therefore, the need for the cheerleader too remains the same. Be the cheerleader for your team and support them during their highs and lows.
