Don’t just clap, stand beside them: be a champion, not a cheerleader

There’s a common habit in the workplace, something like getting your regular coffee before you even ask for it. “Great job!” “Awesome!” “You nailed it!” All kind words, no doubt. Sweet as sugar. But there’s a difference between saying something nice and saying something meaningful. It’s not about what you say, but why you say it. And more importantly, whether the other person feels truly seen.

Applause makes noise. Recognition makes sense.

We cheer a lot at work. “Well done” when a task is completed. “Nice presentation” at the end of a meeting. But too often, those compliments are hollow. No reference to the effort, the thinking, the intention behind the result.

Encouraging, yes but automatic. Like a birthday message copied and pasted to every contact. Polite, but forgettable.

This is the difference between being a cheerleader and being a champion. The cheerleader claps from the sidelines. The champion stands beside you. Truly supporting someone requires knowing them, even just a little. Otherwise, you’re applauding the output without ever acknowledging the person behind it.

Good feedback is like a clean mirror. It doesn’t just say “You did well.” It says, “This reflects something true about you.” And that kind of recognition can’t be improvised. It takes attention. Time. And yes, courage. Because when you tell someone what you genuinely see in them, you put something of yourself on the table, too. You’re not just giving an opinion—you’re making a connection. And maybe, in speaking truthfully to someone else, you reconnect with something in yourself as well.

Being a champion for someone means offering them a clear reflection of who they , are especially in moments when they’ve forgotten. When there’s doubt, fatigue, confusion, that’s when meaningful feedback really matters. Not a pat on the back, but a voice that says: “This isn’t like you. I’ve seen you hold steady in rougher waters. I know that part of you is still here.”

And when things are going well? That’s an opportunity, too. Not just to celebrate the outcome, but to recognize the consistency, the values, the intention behind it. “What impresses me isn’t the result. It’s the way it reflects who you are.”

Now this might sound idealistic. But it isn’t. It’s simple. And it works. Someone who feels genuinely seen doesn’t just perform better, they show up differently. More engaged. More grounded. More trusting, both of themselves and of others.

Perhaps that’s the quiet purpose of leadership: to help people remember who they are. Not with speeches, but with words that resonate. Words that stay with them.

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Think back to the last piece of feedback you gave or received. Was it a mirror, or just a headline? The next time you have the chance, consider offering something more intentional. If you’re curious about deepening the way you support others through communication, coaching could help.

Explore how coaching can support your growth—and apply for a pro bono coaching cycle with me. Nicola Arnese offers these sessions during his free time to avoid conflicts with professional commitments. Some flexibility in scheduling may be required.