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November 19, 2007 | Comments: (0)
The (limited) value of corporate cheerleaders
Dear Bob ...
Just read your excellent Keep the Joint Running of 11/5, ("Taking the measure of IT professionals,") and your comments about teamwork reminded me of something:
Why is it that so many managers confuse cheerleaders with team players? I liked your description of what team players do (align to a common purpose, trust each other, communicate well, and help each other out) -- excellent brief description.
Cheerleaders are full of encouraging comments and catchy phrases, and that's usually the extent of it. In my experience, the cheerleaders are usually the politicians, good at looking good, but (usually) not very productive.
I'd like to see your thoughts on this in KJR someday. I can't think of a catchy ManagementSpeak translation, but maybe you can ...
- Cheerily lead
Dear Pb ...
Well I certainly agree, cheerleaders are good at looking good. It's part of the job description.
I suppose one of these days what I should really write is an apology to all cheerleaders. Real cheerleaders are excellent athletes who work very hard at their trade.
Unlike those in the corporate world to whom we apply the metaphor.
If we were to apply the metaphor much further we might find ourselves concluding that corporate cheerleaders really are team players who contribute value. In theory at least, cheerleaders get the crowd riled up, which in turn helps energize the team on the field, which contributes to winning the game.
I don't know if it really works that way, but it is the idea.
Enough of that. I think your point, and mine as well, is that cheerleading is an important role for both leaders and team members, but it's an ancillary role, not the main event. Anyone who counts cheerleading as their most important contribution needs to gain some additional skills.
- Bob
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Posted by Bob Lewis on November 19, 2007 05:32 PM
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- Cheerily lead
Dear Pb ...
"
I really needed a laugh this morning. And that hit the spot perfectly.
Thanks Bob.
/Perry
(one-time large animal vet & occasional correspondent from too many years ago to recall)
Personally, I think cheerleaders add little value, either in business or in sport. Let me explain.
On the sport side, I hold season tickets for a major university's (US) football games. Quite honestly, very few people pay attention to the cheerleaders. It's the band that gets the stadium going in a unified cheer, and quite often the fans will do so on their own. The primary value of the cheerleaders is helping with the introduction of a new cheer.
(Before I get clobbered, let me add that I very much appreciate the talent, skill, athleticism, and above all hard work of the cheerleaders. Many, many moons ago I was in marching band myself -- different school, totally different experience -- and I'll maintain until the day I die that marching band members and cheerleaders should be getting physical education credit for those activities! My point here is simply that I don't see that they add much value, aside from helping to create the atmosphere that makes college football an entirely different experience from the professional game.)
In business, I see cheerleading the same way. Maybe it's just the connotation of the term, but it strikes me as being a lot of empty phrases with no supporting substance. I don't want someone cheering me on (our CEO is good at trying this); I want encouragement with a solid backing. I'm having trouble coming up with the exact words to describe what I mean, but I think it boils down to we need more "attaboy" and less "let's go, team!".
Posted by: Dave at November 26, 2007 07:30 AM|
Three books. Three ways to change the world, your life, or at least Bob Lewis' bank account. Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World distills the world of IT leadership into eight learnable skills and gives you concrete, practical techniques for each one of them. Bare Bones Project Management: What you can't not do makes project management manageable, even for first-time project managers with no formal training in the discipline. ManagementSpeak: What managers say/What they mean … well, it won't help your career, and won't make you a better manager. Mostly, it will make you chuckle, guffaw, and maybe even chortle. Make friends - it's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever suffered through one of those meetings. Order your copies today! |
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