Get the Most from Your Personal Cheering Squad

Have you ever had a group of people cheering you on wildly? I experienced the feeling in high school when I played hockey. The wild roar of a cheering squad shouting your name is a powerful energizer. It propels individuals or teams to give their best. It can make all the difference in crucial matches. In crucial moments of your life, your cheering squad will encourage you and inspire you to greater heights.

A baby’s first cheering squad is her parents. They cheer her on when she makes her first step. They are overjoyed when she makes it through the first day of school. She continues to have parents and teachers cheering her on through out school life. Then she finds other cheering squads as she goes through life.

Give them something to cheer about

Cheering squads love winners. They are loyal to their teams and encourage them when in a winning match. But sustained losses makes cheering squads disappear one at a time. To maintain a cheering squad, you have to constantly improve and exceed their expectations. Limit their disappointments.

Internet poster child Google Inc has plenty of cheering squads. They have to give the cheering squads something to cheer about constantly to maintain relevancy and grow their market share. Their constant improvements act as fodder for their cheering squads.

Every player knows that to keep the cheering squads on their toes, they have to push themselves and give their best shot. Do the same in your life.

Your personal cheering squad

Whether you realize it or not you have your own cheering squads. You may call them friends, your gang, your group, your partner etc. Even bullies in schools have their cheering squads. Cheering squads can propel you to redemption or damnation. They can lead you to succeed or fail.

Think about it, there is always that person around you in crucial moments in life. They are there when you start a new relationship. They are there when you start a new career. They are there for you during tough times. They are part of your cheering squad.

If you play sports or work on a job that is not anonymous, you will have people celebrating your achievements. They are part of your cheering squad. If you sleep on the job, their silence can deafen you. They will walk away from you one by one. I have people who admire my blogging. If I stop blogging or sleep on the job, they will suddenly get busy, get on with their life.

Understanding your cheering squad

Who you are and what you do determine what kind of cheering squad you attract to your life. Robert Mugabe attracts a different cheering squad from Oprah Winfrey. Charismatic preachers have different cheering squads from prominent porn stars.

Do you take stock of your friends and people in your life? Why are they in your life? What do they encourage you to do more of? Are you addicted to the roar of your cheering squad as they urge you on? Cheering squads do not (or should not) set your direction in life. But they sure do push you forward in the direction you are headed.

Understand your cheering squad before accepting their support wholeheartedly. Seek out a cheering squad that shares your values. You may lose everything in life including your cheering squads, but your values will remain with you. Is your cheering squad congruent with your values? Are they cheering you closer or further from your values and mission in life?

Appreciate your cheering squad

Cheering squads support you out of love and passion. Seek to understand your cheering squad and know why they are cheering you; show them some love and appreciation. Nothing pisses off a cheering squad an unappreciative artist, sportsman or movie star. Celebrities who do not sign autographs are hated and quickly lose some fans when word gets out. You may not be called upon to sign autographs, but you can still show appreciation.

Show your cheering squad that you appreciate them. You can tell them or show them via your actions. Behave yourself well on and off the pitch. Sportsmen’s off pitch antics are likely to piss of fans depending on their severity.

You do not want to hear that your church pastor accused of passing out in a strip joint. Do ya? Give your cheering squad more reasons to cheer you along. Be your best at what you do. Be worthy of a cheering squad.

Define boundaries

Those white lines on a football pitch mean something. They define the border line between players and spectators. Do not let your cheering squad cross the line. If you do not set boundaries with people around you, you are setting yourself up for failure. You are unknowingly precipitating a crisis. The ball cannot flow if the cheering squad steps into the pitch. As much as you would love to bond with your cheering squad, remember to draw the line.

Loyalty to the team

The cheering squad may be shouting your name and expecting you to score. You may get the temptation to shine at the expense of the team. Do not fall for it. Pass the ball when appropriate. Be loyal to your team. Be a team player.

Should you let your cheering team set your agenda? Should you allow your cheering squad too close to your private affairs? Reserve your loyalty to your team. Your team may be your husband, wife, company, friends or family. Do not let well meaning outsiders meddle in your affairs. Be strong and set your own agenda. Be loyal to your team.

Manage Expectations

People who support you expect you to perform at a certain level of excellence. They will cheer you along if you do. If you meet and exceed their expectations they will be happy and excited. If perform below expectations they will leave. The trick is to manage their expectations. Do not promise what you cannot deliver. Keep your word. Let your word be your bond. If you promise that you will turn up for a particular meeting, be there, and on time. Be sure to under promise and to over deliver.

Take a long term view

I advocate for a long term view of success. Overnight success takes 15 years of preparation. Cultivate a cheering squad that will be with you for the long haul. Invest in the selection of a good cheering squad and stick with them.

Some people may come to your life, bring a lot of excitement and leave a wave of destruction like a hurricane. Long term friends and partners may not be as exciting but they are dependable. Cultivate long term relationships with people who are congruent with your long term goals and values.

Summary

This has been yet another way of looking at people around us. Just like sportsmen and women, we all have our cheering squads. Who you are and what you do determine the people you attract to your life.

You can get the most from your cheering squad by understanding yourself and your relationship with them. Define your boundaries and be loyal to your team. Manage your cheering squad’s expectations and take a long term view of your relationships to get the best out of your cheerers and admirers.

Have cheerful day my friend.

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