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As I listened to Obama address Congress today, I was struck by one thing – he's a cheerleader.

If you're team wins, who is responsible for the win? Ultimately it isn't the cheerleader. A good football team can win a football game with no cheerleaders at all. Without a coach, without a quarterback, without a defensive squad? Not so much. Yet, having a cheerleading squad can be the difference between a win or a loss. Each part of the team has a role in the loss or win. Each part of the team has a function that they must fulfill that could be the deciding factor to a winning or losing season.

Just like a winning or losing football team, your company's team members have a purpose and each team member needs to know that they make a difference in the day to day operation of your business. You're the coach if you own the company. You're also the cheerleading squad. You're probably the quarterback too. You are responsible for the failure or the success every day. You can't sacrifice the cheerleading just because it doesn't fit in as a 'real' part of the business. The 'feel good' part of your business should always be important.

A cheerleader makes the team feel good about being a member of the team. They make them feel capable of winning. They feel like they can pick themselves up and go on. They make them feel like they are appreciated.

Its an especially important part of doing business in this economy. We're all feeling pretty depressed about our state of finances – individually and as a country. Pep talks are even more important during a losing game than during a winning game.

Make a difference in your team today. Give them a good pep talk. Talk about your achievements, your victories, your failures. Let them know what you plan to change, what you'd like to see done differently, what's being done right. You don't have to wear a short skirt or balance your secretary on the top of a pyramid. You won't have learn any fancy yells. But take a lesson from the cheerleading squad and give them a good 'Go Team!'.