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Our oldest grandson, Braden, is playing baseball for the first time this year. He is 6 years old. Soon to be 7 - a fact he is very proud of. His first game was Saturday and it was AWESOME. It was more fun than I can possibly describe.

Now, never mind that the wind in West Texas was blowing with gusts up to 60 mph and we could literally eat dirt. Or that most of the kids on the team had never played a competitive baseball game before, or that his team is the "Texas Longhorns" and I was actually seen in public wearing Texas Longhorn colors and screaming "Hook "em Horns". The Longhorn stuff is a tough pill for this Clemson Tiger to take. But as I said Saturday, "anything for Braden." Spoken like a true grandparent.

But back to the game. And Encouragement.

It started right at the top (as it always does). The head coach of Braden's team gets it. He understands what so many people in leadership positions don't. He gets it that encouragement builds up people. He gets it that encouragement spurs people on to try harder; to give it everything they've got. He gets it that encouragement produces outstanding results.

Clearly, this coach knows how to lead. He understands he cannot do it alone. He has clearly communicated expectations. He is keeping the parents informed and getting them involved. He's obviously set a powerful example and the Dads assisting him in coaching are following his lead. Every one of the coaches is consistently encouraging and offering praise.

I wish you could have seen those kids on Saturday. They were beaming! You think this doesn't make those kids try harder? Does the coach specifically discuss encouragement with his assistant coaches? Or does he simply lead by example? I don't know. I suspect both.

And his encouragement is infectious (by the way, encouragement always is). The parents and grandparents were not only screaming and yelling and going crazy for their own kid but for EVERY kid on the team. And for the kids on the opposing team! And the kids played their hearts out!

I know first-hand, from having surveyed thousands of people in the workplace, that people need a lot more encouragement than they are getting. Encouragement isn't only for six year olds. It is for everyone.

Are you an encouraging leader? I don't know. Could you be? Absolutely!

The next game isn't until Saturday. I don't know if I can wait that long.