# Why it's important the leader should be a cheerleader

Effective cheerleaders have deep insights, are masters at motivating, have a cheerful influencing style, are sensitive and resilient

### Leadership and Management

1 minute read

By [Adil Malia](/content/contributors/adil-malia/index.html)  
Published on 12th September 2025

**What makes a good cheerleader?**

01. Cheerleaders help you understand yourself. They make you accentuate your positives and eliminate your negatives

02. Cheerleaders focus on making you realise and master the small things that make a big difference to your performance

03. A cheerleader is a champion – you should look up to him/her for expert advice

04. A cheerleader takes a 360 view and gives you competitive benchmarks with recommended strategy while you are busy running the race

05. Through deep insights, cheerleaders know your strengths, vulnerabilities, triggers and palpitations. He/she writes your winning recipe

06. A true cheerleader understands you best. He or she uses a bespoke combination of praise and critique to make you a grounded winner

07. Cheerleaders are sharp and sensitive. They know when to 'clap', when to 'snap' and when to use the figurative 'slap' for best results

08. Cheerleaders know where to draw the line between action and influence. Evolved leaders influence team behaviours and induce action

09. Only a cheerleader can make you strive for excellence even when you could win by mediocre performance, raising the bar higher

10. A leader who cannot be a ‘cheerleader' can only be a 'fear-leader'. That style will not take him or her further with the team

#### About the author

Adil Malia  
I'm interested in value creation for business turnarounds and organisational transformation.  
[View Full Bio](/content/contributors/adil-malia/index.html)