Unveiled: The Transformative Power of Encouragement
How Cheer Squads Unleash Potential
Encouragement possesses an extraordinary ability to shape our lives, bolster our self-assurance, and drive us toward realizing our utmost potential. It forges an unwavering belief in one's capabilities, acting as a catalyst to venture beyond comfort zones and embrace new challenges. This power of encouragement is vividly exemplified in the dynamic between Blue Ivy and Beyoncé, highlighting the critical role of a supportive sponsor in fostering confidence and nurturing untapped potential.
Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of the international superstar Beyoncé, has been capturing attention globally not solely because of her iconic parentage but also due to her increasing self-assuredness on her mother's recent tour. While numerous factors contribute to her poised demeanor, one extraordinary influence shines brightly - the ardent support from Beyoncé's fans. The enthusiastic encouragement from Beyoncé's admirers has played a pivotal role in fortifying Blue Ivy's confidence during the latest tour. Beyonce, with her own reputed talent and influence, ‘sponsors’ Blue Ivy, which predisposes her fans to give credibility to Blue Ivy and encourage her to confidently showcase her own talent. Blue Ivy's journey, buoyed by Beyoncé's fans, highlights the significance of a dedicated cheer squad, offering emotional support, constructive feedback, and a celebration of individuality.
Watch this TikTok clip that vividly captures how encouragement transformed Blue Ivy's performance over three months!
Emulating this, fostering a robust cheer squad and securing a reliable sponsor are crucial steps toward achieving career milestones.
Cultivating Your Cheer Squad
Here’s why it’s crucial to cultivate your cheer squad and look out for ways you can be part of this support structure for someone else:
Emotional Support: A cheer squad extends emotional support in both times of triumph and tribulation, reminding you of your intrinsic value. A study by the American Psychological Association shows that employees with this type of support are more engaged and 81% more likely to stay with their current employer.
Moral Boost: According to a report by the Harvard Business Review, 65% of women with a champion felt more confident in their ability to succeed, as opposed to 56% of women without champions.
Constructive Feedback: Your cheer squad is not just about applause; it also provides candid feedback and guidance. This invaluable input aids in your growth and development, thereby amplifying your self-assurance.
Motivation: Encouragement from your cheer squad can be an incredibly potent motivator, emboldening you to reach for your dreams and work diligently towards your goals. Research by the Anita Borg Institute indicates that women in tech who have a cheer squad are 77% more likely to still be working in the tech industry after three years compared to those without that encouragement.
Celebration of Individuality: Your cheer squad helps you celebrate your uniqueness, acknowledging and honoring the qualities that set you apart. This acceptance fosters a robust self-concept and fortifies your self-confidence. Women with a cheer squad are more likely to negotiate for promotions and pay raises, helping them overcome gender biases in the workplace.
Networking Opportunities: Your cheer squad often includes individuals with diverse talents and skills, offering fertile ground for collaboration and personal advancement.
Encouragement is an unstoppable force capable of transforming lives, an indispensable element for forging unwavering self-assurance. Whether you are an emerging artist, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone on a journey of personal growth, it is imperative to surround yourself with a cheer squad that shares in your vision and believes in your potential. Encouragement knows no bounds and is the key to attaining greatness far beyond your wildest dreams!
Here are 3 actions to cultivate your own cheer squad to tap into the transformative power of encouragement and bolster your confidence:
Establish Trust and Alignment: Identify the connecting points in terms of goals and values between you and your potential sponsor. Build on that alignment through your conversations - this is crucial to establish trust, impacting career progression and long-term success. Not only do you need to have the talent and track record, but also key people in the organization need to know your value proposition. It’s one thing to produce great results, but if no one knows about them, you remain invisible. You need to learn how to articulate your value proposition with key stakeholders. Women have a tendency to seek out role models or someone they admire rather than someone with the power to take action on their behalf. Identify someone at the senior leadership level who has respect in the organization and has the clout to make things happen for you.
Demonstrate Impact and Accountability: Consistently great performance is the first necessary requirement for sponsorship. Sponsorship provides a statistical benefit of up to 30% for high profile assignments, promotions, and pay raises. That’s why your sponsor needs to be confident that you will follow through and meet and exceed his or her expectations, as they are actively promoting you. They are putting their career on the line to move yours forward.
Actively Seek Guidance and Feedback: When asked to name the most important things their sponsors had done to help make them more successful, participants in a study by Catalyst shared coaching and advice made the most difference. Distinct from traditional mentoring, much of what these leaders identified was more sophisticated types of coaching and advice specific to stretching into a role, position, or assignment for which sponsors were recommending them. This advice was actionable and targeted, designed to help prepare protégés for the complexities of these new roles or assignments, setting them up for success.
A sponsor serves as a champion for an individual, offering not only encouragement but also practical support in the form of opportunities, guidance, and advocacy. The relationship between a sponsor and their protege can be a potent catalyst for personal and professional growth, ultimately leading to increased confidence, accomplishment, and success.
Whether you're at the beginning of your career or a seasoned professional, we can all benefit from the support of a cheer squad!
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Author Credit: Wanda Shoer is a senior executive, strategist, and thought leader in the healthcare industry. She is a value based, driven leader, committed to empowering and supporting others on their career journey. Wanda is a proud Latina of Dominican descent and lives in NJ with her loving husband and two children.