Cheering each other on….

9/5/19

I’ve been reflecting this week on the importance of cheering each other on authentically, and the difference it makes to us all going further. We can be our own worst critics at times so it can be hugely uplifting to have someone point out something positive about our actions in a genuine way that builds our confidence and self belief.

A wonderful practical example of ‘cheering people on’ can be seen in these ‘greatix reports’ that celebrate what staff are doing well, thanks to the Children’s team at the Royal London for sharing these this week.

Sometimes we miss opportunities to recognise the good stuff that people do. A colleague recently did a cracking bit of work asking parents about their experiences of care, wrote it up and is using it to frame their local improvement work. I’d emailed to say ‘thank you’ and to appreciate the time and effort that had gone into doing this, they replied saying how much they valued the recognition. When there’s so much going on, I know I need to become more intentional in my cheering on of others as it pays so many dividends. In our ever demanding lives creating time to notice and acknowledge the actions of staff can create magical results.

I witnessed this personally when Majella, a wonderful senior nurse who sent me a ‘certificate of recognition’ for a few words I’d said at a recent event. I’d given a lot of thought to the words and framing of them due to the complexity of the situation, the email follow up of appreciation from her meant so much. Yet importantly it said so much about Majella, her kindness, thoughtfulness and ‘noticing’ was hugely impactful, as a result I’m much more likely to accept a complex situation like this again. Majella’s recognition and actions had a significant impact.

Recognising positive engagement and reflecting on it can, and does assist in growing and amplifying that behaviour. I was spending time with nursing students last week and commented on the impact they make when they connect with and care for parents. The difference they make in supporting families in distressing situations and in alien healthcare environments is significant. The nods and facial expression in the group as we chatted together supported their huge role in caring for families, reflecting and valuing their contribution is hugely important.

Feeding back our observations of others and being proactive in our encouragement can have a significant ‘ripple effect’, increasing positive behaviours. Receiving recognition can mean that we don’t give up, that we keep trying, as a result our resilience grows and that positive feeling is conveyed to others.

Digital or ‘virtual cheerleadering’ is something I see a lot of on social media. @Hannanecdotal a Clinical Nurse Specialist recently tweeted of her tiredness and frustration due to resource issues, something many will identify with, she reflected in a follow up tweet that after a sleep, a walk and some self care that she’d watched her phone ‘blow up’ with kindness, that’s rooting for each other in tough times.

Building the confidence of colleagues through reflections on their shared content on twitter means we share perspectives and open ourselves up to new ideas. It also encourages engagement beyond purely broadcasting information which brings added depth of connection and understanding. Social media is an exciting tool that can put us in touch with all sorts of interesting people, expanding our professional networks, fostering exciting collaborations as well as offering support.

So thinking about this, it seems that communicating, noticing and feeding back on the actions of others can also grow our own positive critical thinking skills, it can develop and nurture our written and verbal feedback skills, providing opportunities to test out what works, seeing responses and tweaking our language and behaviours accordingly. Caring about and celebrating the accomplishments of others means that paths can be paved for new collaborations too.

We all seek a sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger than ourselves. Recognising the contribution of others, stating how valued someone’s insight or input was in an interaction or at a meeting WILL have an impact on their future contributions, recognition will mean they’ll continue to contribute and that contribution will mature.

I think being a cheerleader of others requires thoughtfulness, insight, energy and a positive mental attitude, these are all skills that grow when we choose to use them daily. Showing up, and being present, creates that opportunity to connect, to note and take action by speaking up about what we see.

So who is your biggest cheerleader? Do they know how valued they are, could you could tell them this? Are you a cheerleader, who can you ‘cheer on’ today? Perhaps we can all take small steps to notice and encourage more so that we invest in maturing this habit in ourselves and in others? As always I’d love your thoughts!

Thank you for your tweets in response…

Author: @kathevans2

I’m a Children’s Nurse who is passionate about improving healthcare and life with people who use services. I love getting out in the countryside or to the seaside to promote my mental health and well-being. On a journey to doing 100 marathons (slowly!) & part of team #NHS1000miles (new members always welcome!) I also love charity shopping, cooking and healthy eating too 😉 Sharing thoughts on a range of things that interest me. Comments, challenge, links to further thinking and research are most welcome. Learning and thinking together is always more fun! View all posts by @kathevans2