How rich is your fan club? How well do they positively contribute to your career and personal growth?

In the course of my career, I have been blessed with colleagues/individuals who have contributed immensely to enriching my career experience. I will call them my Voltron as they took pride in defending me even in my absence. They believe in me and all I stand for and cheer me on all the time.

Some of these individuals were drawn to me, while others I was drawn to them. In both cases, I ensured I was cautious of whom I accommodated into this prestigious “fan club” of mine to ensure they were forward-thinking people whose career trajectories I admired, in order for me to avoid falling into the trap of inadvertently building what I would call “complainers’ gang.”

These individuals celebrated my strengths and accomplishments in private and in public, while behind the scenes, they humorously and actively supported growth in my areas of improvement.

I could banter with them after meetings without fear of being judged or misunderstood. Together we expressed our displeasures with some practices, and together we also strategized to influence the course of events and policies positively. Also, we encouraged each other to play hard when it was time to play as if it was only playing that would get us the medals and work hard when it was time to work as if everything depended on work alone.

They provided positive criticism of my work, corrected me, and were authentic with me at all times. They were always quick with the truth, made fun of me when I goofed, and provided a safe space for me to be comfortable and vulnerable. Their actions played a significant role in my career success and gave me reasons to stay focused. Even in instances where self-doubt almost crept in, they believed in me and cheered me on. They made me feel like a superstar all the time and were genuinely passionate about my success.

Shout out to some of my cheerleaders – WOLE ODUBAYO (MCIPM), Phillip Dada, Ladi Sanni, ‘Kola Otekalu (Chartered FCIPD), Yinka Dawodu, Onyebuchi Okonji, Toyin Amodu, Temi Edu, yombo agboola, Fisayo Adeliyi, Suleiman Arzika, Chris Itegboje, Emo Udobong-Ntia, Chidi Eneogwe, Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, Adeyinka Banjo CSCP, CIPP, Raymond Agbi, MBA(UK), AMP (LBS), FCILT, Efe Anaide. You guys rock!

Do you have your team of cheerleaders? How are they serving you for your personal growth and career advancement/success?