What America’s Sweethearts (& DCC) Taught Me About Leadership

You’re watching America’s Sweethearts for the drama and the high kicks.
I’m watching it for the leadership lessons you need.

(Okay… and also the drama. And the high kicks!!!)

There was one moment in Season 2 that totally stopped me in my tracks. Not because of the rhinestones or the hair flips (although those were fab!!!!), but because of what it revealed about great leadership.

Feedback Shock!

Kelli Finglass, longtime director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, is watching footage of herself giving performance feedback to one of the women. And what does she see?

A deer-in-headlights stare from a cheerleader who really didn’t see it coming.

That moment? It hits Kelli. Hard.

She realizes she was the problem. Not because the feedback was wrong, but because it came too late. To Kellis’ credit, she recognizes it and decides to make a change for the next season.

She literally rewrites the playbook: from now on, feedback won’t be a surprise. It’ll be early. It’ll be often.

What Leaders Can Learn From Kelli

Here’s why this moment matters (even if you’ve never held pom-poms in your life):

1. Great leaders reflect.

Not just on what they said, but on how it landed. Intentions don’t matter if your team walks away confused, deflated, or blindsided. Kelli recognized that this was an issue and made a choice to change.

2. Great leaders adapt.

Great leaders aren’t always great. And they definitely weren’t when they first started.

3. Feedback should be part of the culture.

Don’t wait for a quarterly review to tell someone what they could’ve done three months ago. Feedback should be baked into your culture—not reserved for emergencies.

Say it early.
Say it often.
Say it like it’s normal.
Because it should be.

The Bottom Line: “Wait, what?” Isn’t a Feedback Strategy

If your team is shocked by your feedback, that’s not a win. That’s a red flag.

Your job as a leader isn’t to surprise people.
It’s to support them. Coach them. Make the path clearer.

Even if you’re not running a cheer squad, your team deserves that level of clarity.

So the next time you’re watching reality TV “just for fun”?
Keep one eye on the leadership lessons.
They’re everywhere!!!