Positive Words Unlock Potential: Cadbury Study Reveals the Power of Encouragement
By Jill Dando News
Kind words can unlock your potential, according to a new Cadbury study released today.
The research reveals the profound impact of positive encouragement: 92% of UK adults admit they have felt more confident because of something someone said to them - emphasising that even small acts of support can have a transformative effect on an individual's potential.
To highlight the real-world impact of these findings, Cadbury is launching its new Game Changers campaign, celebrating how a little support can go a long way.
The campaign features four legendary female players from the UK and Ireland – Leah Williamson, Jill Scott, Lauren James, and Katie McCabe – whose success has been fuelled by the positive support of those around them.
These athletes are sharing their personal experiences, proving the power of encouragement to drive success and build confidence.
To further highlight the impact that words can have, this study revealed that 81% of Brits apply lessons learned in a sporting context to their everyday lives.
The most common areas where this advice is applied are when people are faced with setbacks (25%), dealing with problems in friendships (22%), and when they are learning new skills (20%).
The nation’s favourite words of encouragement to hear whilst they are playing sport were also uncovered:
1. Run your own race (12%)
2. Don't fear mistakes that’s how you learn (11%)
3. Play because you love it (10%)
4. The game isn’t over until the whistle blows (10%)
5. You win as a team you lose as a team (10%)
These everyday phrases, used on and off the field, illustrate the power of simple encouragement.
As the Cadbury Game Changers campaign shows, you don't need to be a coach or a mentor to offer words that can boost confidence and resilience – a little support can come from anyone, anywhere.
“Our new study shows just how powerful positive words can be," says Beth Williams, Junior Brand Manager, Mondelēz International. "Through our Game Changers campaign, we want to celebrate the individuals who provide crucial support and demonstrate that a little support can truly change the game for someone.”
"Positive words create a positive team environment. My coach always fostered that, and it made us a stronger, more resilient team," says Jill Scott. "It's amazing how much a simple 'Well done!' or 'Keep going!' can lift someone's spirits."
"There were times when I doubted myself, but my grandma never did," adds Leah Williamson. "She always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. That unwavering support meant the world to me and helped me keep going."
Further findings from the study of 2,000 UK adults revealed:
89% of Brits polled think words of encouragement contribute towards making team environments ‘a lot’ or ‘somewhat’ more positive
53% of Brits said the most genuine types of encouragement come from one-to-one situations, expressing words of affirmation
16% of Brits have used advice from sport when dealing with difficult colleagues
Positive encouragement often comes from those closest to us, highlighting the vital role friends and family play in building confidence and unlocking potential.
Cadbury is offering people the chance to win an inspiring face-to-face meeting with either Leah, Jill, Katie or Lauren, as well as a signed shirt, hotel stay and travel to share with three of their game-changing friends or family.
People can also win daily prizes, including football match tickets and hundreds of vouchers. To enter, visit the Cadbury Instagram page and add a comment about your own Game Changer.
If you have a positive story or uplifting news to share, we’d love to hear from you!
Just email us at news@goodnewspost.co.uk.
Whether it's a local hero, an act of kindness, or a personal win, your story could help spread joy and improve someone’s mental health. Let’s make the world a little brighter, one good news story at a time.
And don’t forget—you can sign up for free to get the latest feel-good stories straight to your inbox!
