The Spirit of Encouragement

When we think about the people who inspire or encourage us, it’s easy to receive that encouragement without realizing the power of reciprocating that energy.

Let me say that another way.

Leaders are expected to encourage or they won’t be leaders for long. Leaders need encouragement as well. Sometimes it’s just a matter of saying thank you.

My Favorite Coach

I’m not sure how the subject of leadership style came up but when guys get talking on the same subject for a long enough period of time it always turns to sports.

I played football and tennis when I was younger. They didn’t necessarily attract the same athletes and certainly required different coaching strategies.

I remember my football coaches very well because they tended to spend a great deal of time shouting and throwing clip boards. My dad was a football coach so I knew from a very young age that most of the emotion was intended to get the players’ adrenaline pumping. It was a necessary component both for the benefit of the team and the protection of the player.

Coaching Techniques aren’t Universal

So the conversation turned to one of my old football coaches who had taken over the tennis team.

“How’s that working out?” I asked already laughing.

My friend described the jeering and criticism this man was firing at players, during their matches. He either had no idea how negatively this was impacting the players or didn’t care. The opposing coaches were either content to have him sabotage his own team, or were intimidated by his size.

A Time and A Place

In business we rarely need the leadership style of the football coach, but always crave the style of the true tennis coach. When obtaining specific goals depends upon our level of concentration, encouragement and praise are food for self confidence.

Just like a tennis player needs to believe they are good enough to defeat their opponent (not a pathetic loser with a forehand like an old lady) an entrepreneur needs the confidence necessary to persevere through difficulties.

The leadership style dripping with positive reinforcement always produces amazing results. Coupled with a genuine interest in other peoples success, that leader is priceless.

Positive reinforcement directly affects our attitude and motivation. It’s said that a person needs to receive six to seven positive statements to simply balance the effect of one negative statement. With a ratio that stacked, the amount of encouragement anyone needs is staggering. To a home business owner it can be critical.

Leave Nothing To Chance

Most companies, especially where sales are concerned, have programs in place to address this issue. They actually take the steps necessary to ensure their employees are pumped up and ready to go. If they take the time to screen potential employees for attitude issues, why wouldn’t they include measures or protection against negativity?

My own network has in place a variety of measures for ensuring ongoing personal development. Among the many training calls there is one specifically designed to encourage people. Curiously it comes early in the day. When we need to be properly motivated, it should happen before our most productive time of day.

What Goes Around…

What I’ve discovered as a home business owner is the reciprocal affect of offering encouragement whenever possible. We know instinctively, that compliments we fish for won’t have the same results, as those that come unsolicited. However, the more we encourage others, the more encouragement we can expect in return.

Simply because I don’t face rush hour traffic, and have the ability to schedule travel around school bus hours, doesn’t mean my day is stress free. Encouragement has a way of lowering our stress, similar to the effects of exercise and fresh air.

We help to make each other healthier and more productive through the loving act of encouragement. We need it for business and we need it for life.