What a shock! After years of doubting  the value of cheerleading, I’ve changed my tune. I’m not only acknowledging the worth of cheerleading, but also recommending the adoption of more cheerleading practices.

What caused my conversion? Well, distance – time and location – from my small town Oklahoma high school has helped. (Several cheerleaders got pregnant my sophomore year and dropped out of high school. That motivated me to double down and figure out how to get the hell out of dodge and into a good out-of-state college.)

Recognizing the positive effects of cheerleading from a neuroscience perspective has also helped me update my perspective. (More about this next.) In fact, as I’ll describe, I’m advocating for using cheerleading practices at work and in organizations.    

Meanwhile, it’s notable that cheerleading itself has adapted over the years.  For instance, cheerleading originally was all about driving engagement with fans in the stands while simultaneously practicing crowd control.

Today, cheerleading has expanded into both professional entertainment and a competitive sport.  Cheerleaders can be athletes in their own right, doing tumbling, jumping and stunting (the lifting and tossing of teammates). Cheerleaders also can serve as community ambassadors, representing their school or professional team at events, fundraisers and charity functions to strengthen relationships outside of the stadium.

In their traditional role – working on the sidelines at sporting events – cheerleaders take three actions that benefit them, the team, and the crowd. Leaders at any organization can apply these three actions to help themselves and employees, which in turn supports their employer.

Action 1: positive mindset

Ever see a frowning, grumpy cheerleader on the sidelines? Very seldom. Cheerleaders smile tenaciously and yell words of encouragement, which puts the people in the crowd in a positive state of mind. When individuals feel positive, they’re more inclined to feel safe and want to engage in proactive social behaviors. This includes being kind and considerate to those around them, being able to manage their emotions better, and making more social connections. They also are more open to new ideas and more willing to solve problems and seek solutions, rather than dwell on difficulties and obstacles.

Organizational leaders who help employees adopt a positive state of mind can achieve and enjoy these benefits too. When individuals have more positive than negative thoughts, they enjoy a range of benefits. They can become more creative problem-solvers, be more resilient,  and manage stress better. They also may be more inclined to adopt healthy lifestyles, including exercising regularly and eating more balanced diets, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Leaders don’t have to adopt the always-on infectious smile that cheerleaders have. But they can drop their frowns and any yelling. And leaders also can check in with people,  help them feel safe, and reframe to find the bright side of situations. (For inspiration, avoid the lyrics to this Monty Python song, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, unless you want to share some laughs.)

Action 2: effort not just results

Also in their traditional role, cheerleaders know that effort counts, not just results. Cheerleaders strive to get athletes and spectators to exert themselves. For example, cheerleaders motivate the spectators to try harder – yell, whistle and make more noise to increase excitement and encourage the team. The cheerleaders appreciate players and fans making an effort.

Contrast these cheerleaders’ actions with how some leaders withhold praise, recognition and rewards until employees cross the finish line. With these leaders, reaching milestones doesn’t matter. In sports terms, these leaders are not paying attention to who wins individual games or even secures a playoff position.  Instead, the winner who takes all and is crowned the champion is the only one who counts.

Yet,  “winning” the sale, getting the contract, or securing the patent or some other notable achievement deserves acknowledgement as these actions make a difference. Individuals will get a release of dopamine that boosts them to keep striving to meet their goals.

You want to be the leader who channels your inner cheerleader and inspires people, rather than ignores them, or even worse deflates or scares them. (For more on this topic, read my blog post How to pull people toward opportunities rather than push them into fear)

Action 3: celebrate wins

And as anyone who’s attended a sporting event knows, cheerleaders celebrate their team’s wins with loud cheers, jumps and other actions.

Leaders can also be loud and proud of their team members who meet and even surpass goals. Plus, individual and group celebrations are always appropriate to acknowledge achievement. And you can scale the celebrations to fit the size of your budget. These celebrations release both dopamine and oxytocin, which provides a sense of reward while building trust.

In sum, leaders could benefit by being more like cheerleaders with these three actions:

1. Embrace a positive mindset for yourself and your team members.
2. Recognize efforts and milestones.
3. Celebrate wins.