Have you ever wondered why some groups of people not only consistently win, but consistently dominate? I like to call these teams, groups of people or organizations “Super Powered.” What common traits do these groups exhibit?

First, Super Powered groups are encouraging. The dictionary defines encouraging as: 1) To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence; hearten 2) To give support to; foster and 3) To stimulate

Everyday, you and I face situations where we have an internal battle with encouragement. We observed, assess, and design our own capability and worthiness based on our own experience in self thought. Further, whether we do or do not attempt, accomplish, or succeeded in something is often determined in our mind.

In Super Powered organization though, these thoughts and decisions move outside of the individual to the medium of group encouragement. The power of that encouragement within a group enhances the power of the individual taking their capabilities from a four cylinder engine to a Supercharged V8.

For example, studies continuously show that verbal encouragement is one of the top factors in successful parenting. Kids, who were encouraged to read, read. Kids, who were encouraged to try harder, do so. Kids, who were encouraged in their school for athletics tend to excel.

The reason in encouragement’s power is that it is intensely contagious. Those who are encouraged will encourage others and themselves. They will provide the extra efforts that inspire a coworker and will learn how to put themselves over the edge with more confidence self talk.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was casually going about my business at home working in the kitchen. In the other room my three kids is have a portable hopscotch game with interlocking foam rubber pieces. My heart warmed when I heard a one child after another take their turn and the other children say things like “great job!”, “Wow, you are really at that!”, “Try it this way, you can do it!”

Hearing verbal encouragement from my children to one an other further encouraged me that my example and commitment of verbal encouragement was having an impact. That is it is helping build a Super Powered family.

In the same way, your commitment to encouraging those in your organization will move you down that same path. So, let me close by encouraging you to be an encourager. As soon as you are done reading this article, I want to list three people in your organization that you can verbally encourage today and make a point to do it right away.  Tell me who you encouraged and how it went by posting a comment below.

Be Free!

Blaine Halverson