Mahi’s Impeccable Leadership – A Case Study!!

15^th Aug 2020, Mahi or MS or MSD or Thala’s retirement date from International Cricket. Not so astonishing, but he continued with his low-profile approach even while announcing his retirement through an Instagram post. Captain Cool as he is popularly known has put an end to the continuous discussions about his retirement post India’s exit from the 2019 World Cup. But very less people would be aware of the fact that he took a sabbatical from cricket and joined his regiment in the Territorial Army as he couldn’t digest his run-out incident in the semi-final match against New Zealand. The last two inches to the crease which he couldn’t make it on that day was haunting him like anything. Making it to the play-offs for the eleventh time in the IPL history seems to be pretty difficult for him now and the critics have not missed a single moment to raise questions about his captaincy and batsmanship. However, Dhoni has been transparent and admitted about the process gaps during a conversation with his Chennai Super Kings fans and potentially gearing up for the next IPL season. Such is the aura of the India’s greatest ever cricket leader who accepts loss with grace even after earning the Winners’ tag in three major ICC Championships.

The journey of this small-town boy from Ranchi must be a dream for him prior to 2004 but he has turned it to a reality. His ethics, personality and way of leadership is certainly a case-study for management professionals as well as business conglomerates. His leadership style undoubtedly offers invaluable lessons to all people managers at all levels. Many of us many a times have realized that leadership is not about a position or designation but an attitude. It’s all about making a difference to one’s own self and others. Handing over the last over to a non-regular bowler named Joginder Sharma in the first ICC Twenty-20 World Cup against the arch-rivals Pakistan stunned the cricketing pundits of the world and the rest is history, thus led to the evolution of one of the best ever cricketing brains in world cricket and an unconventional leader. The triangular series win against Australia in Australia in 2008 was a redefining moment in India’s cricketing history as a young Indian side under the charismatic leadership of Dhoni defeated the mighty Aussies in their own backyard which was next to impossible during that time. He has built a culture of fearlessness attitude and raised the confidence quotient to the highest degree within the team. He promoted himself up in the batting order during the finals of 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and steered India to victory when he was not in his prime form, thus leading by example from the front basically when it mattered the most. When Rohit Sharma was going through mediocre performances in the earlier part of his cricketing career, Dhoni promoted Rohit as an opener. Needless to say, but that very decision is still paying rich dividends to Indian cricket. Dhoni has the uncanny ability to identify the spark in his team members and later capitalizes on it. Since then Rohit has never looked back and is currently regarded as one of the most explosive openers in world cricket. The world was in a state of shock in ICC Champions Trophy 2013 Final when Dhoni gave the ball to Ishant Sharma in a crunch situation, who got smacked all around the park in his previous over. Believe me or not, Ishant picked up two valuable wickets that eventually led to India winning the championship. Dhoni’s enormous trust on his team-members is second to none and is very much needed in any team. In ICC World Twenty20 2016, his tactical prowess came to the fore when he did the unthinkable while keeping, with Bangladesh needing two runs off the last ball, he decided not to wear his right glove. He collected the ball in his right hand and ran himself towards the stumps to get the run-out executed in a nail-bitter finish at Bangalore. It exactly happened as he scripted. His immaculate strategy puts himself in the category of the finest readers of the game. No matter what the situation is, MS stays calm and composed every time and instills the same in his team also. When he realized that Wriddhiman Saha can fill his shoes in the Test Cricket side, he hung his boots in the midst of the Australian Tour. He has played a vital role in the emergence of Virat as a leader and moved out from the captaincy role at the right juncture. This speaks volumes of a leader who nurtures future players and leaders too. As a true servant of Indian cricket, he drew attention of the Selection Committee about the fitness issue of the senior players thereby raising eyebrows among the public. Brickbats were hurled at him and even his effigies were burnt but as a visionary leader, he was thinking ahead of times only for the betterment of Indian cricket.

I may not be wrong in stating that few sports analytics companies by now would have created AI/ML models to analyze his on-field leadership tactics. In a nutshell, Dhoni as India’s cricket captain has displayed true facets of leadership which all people managers across domains can imbibe and get their style enriched. It’s high time for Corporate India to learn from this unconventional yet astute leader. I would end by putting one of his famous quotes – “To be a great leader, you need to go down the untraveled path for others to follow”.

 

Positivity, in-built or made?

A human being’s mind is a boon for him/her. Rather I would say it’s magic. From neuroscience and psychology standpoint, there are around 86 billion neurons in a human brain. If these neurons start transmitting positive signals, we can’t even imagine the power of that positive energy!! It is contagious in nature and creates a ripple effect. It’s benefits are multi-fold; it changes the personality of a person completely and the way of looking at various aspects of life also changes remarkably. The adrenaline rush in the body created through that energy eliminates all the unnecessary negative thoughts, whether it is egoism, depression, psychopathy etc. You find a newer version of yourself and it has a cascading effect too. When you talk with your family members, friends, relatives etc., your wordings say it all. It is equally complemented by your actions also. People start perceiving you very well. In the professional world, it creates a significant impact amongst your peers, team-members and other colleagues leading to a very cohesive and inclusive culture.

Before we drill down further, I want to share something about Arunima Sinha, world’s first female amputee to climb Mount Everest. She lost her left leg in a very tragic incident when she was thrown off the moving Padmawati Express train for resisting a chain-snatching attempt by hooligans in 2011. When she started recovering, she made up her mind to scale the highest peak of the world and she did it in 2013 with a prosthetic leg. It is nothing but sheer positivity. If she could, then we can. Certainly, the question that arises is how can we build it. It’s nothing complex to decipher or imbibe. Then, what is this positivity? Is it willpower, confidence or a blend of both? There is no right or wrong answer to this. What I believe, it’s all in the mindset. One’s upbringing plays a huge role but it’s not the sole factor. When you expose yourself with various sections of people across the society, you start knowing them, understand them, learn from them and then try to inculcate their good qualities within you. The wealth of knowledge keeps on increasing as you keep on reading books, journals, papers etc. Practicing yoga and breathing exercises on a daily basis creates that stimulus and livens you up. Engaging oneself in walking, running, playing any sort of sport augments your physical and mental well-being. Listening to songs or playing any musical instrument builds a soothing ambience and bolsters your mental equilibrium. Whether you watch inspiring and motivational videos in YouTube or hear to TED Talks, it’s your choice how you infuse them in your life. Last but not the least, if you make an effort to show your gratitude to one single person and make it a part of your daily routine, I bet you would be the happiest and respected person in this world.  In short, do whatever you enjoy to do, as it boosts up the happiness quotient and makes you feel satisfied. There is no mantra for this. However, if we want to redefine ourselves, then we need to stay positive irrespective of anything and everything. I am not an alien to it. This reminds me of a famous quote from Winston Churchill - “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.”

Change – Accept it but can't ignore it !!

Did anybody ever dream to operate out of home consecutively for around four months barring few exceptional cases? The answer would be a big “No”. However, the current situation has made it exceptional for everybody. The third decade of this century has started in a very topsy-turvy fashion. The word “corona” has reached to every nook and corner of the world. Whether it is a kid or nonagenarian, each one is aware of the hazardous corona virus. Almost the entire world was in a standstill position, there was complete lock down. Economies shrinking than ever before, reminds people of “The Great Depression” days. Recession has somewhat crept in and employees have been provided with pink slips. The migrant workers and the daily wagers are sensing the utmost pain. In the midst of this killer corona, Mother Nature has devastated lives through Cyclone Amphan, tremors, locust attack etc. adding insult to injury. Even though people have started living with it, but the fear and anxiety is still looming large on the horizon.

Companies have to let their professionals to operate remotely. The contours of professional life have been changed; home has become the new office. New employees are on-boarded virtually while exit formalities are also done in a similar manner too. Women employees are running a double-show ensuring effective business delivery as well as the role of a perfect home-maker. At the same time, male employees are extending their hand to their spouses for the house-hold activities. Many people have added new routines to their lives while some others have revived their earlier habits. Schools have been doing online classes which made my six-year old son used to Zoom/Google Meet ensuring the headphone & microphone are working as expected before his class. My father who is a retired Govt. official never saw me taking calls and attending back-to-back meetings became quite flabbergasted. Now he is used to the way we operate. Families have started watching mythological TV serials of the 80’s such as “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” together which are telecasted now again. I have started adapting to situations such as my son running in between and showing his BMW M3 GTR drawing and asking for feedback while I am in the middle of a meeting. My apartment society’s circumference would be around 200 metres and I never used to walk inside it because of a short track. Now, I am jogging for around 10 kilometres in the same premises. Aren’t these all changes in our lives? Many people are questioned about managing the current situation which is nothing but a paradigm shift in everybody’s lives. Neither the state-heads nor the CEOs of all organizations would have ever dreamt about this in their wildest of their dreams. However, a crisis has happened and it needs to be dealt with when the exact solution is in progress. Per me, it’s all in the mindset. Your mind is the pivot. Then the question arises – “How to maintain the mental equilibrium in the midst of such unprecedented times”.

In spite of the horrendous impact of this corona pandemic, the medical and police & security personnel continue to be the beacon of hope and strength by putting their lives at stake. Their indomitable courage and selfless service brings back the smile on each one’s face. They work day in and day out to ensure there is minimal loss of life. This kind of service which may be a part of their daily routine, inculcates in every individual the resolve to fight against this dreadful disease and I am not an alien to it. I try to share the same with my little one too. Also, every morning, I keep on discussing with my ageing parents regarding these unsung heroes which includes but not limited to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other medical personnel, NGO professionals and the khaki-dressed personnel and their level of commitment. The basic intent from my end is to spread positive vibes across the home in these worrisome moments. Few days back, there was a terrorist attack in Handwara (J&K) where 3 CRPF personnel lost their lives and 7 others were injured. These Army jawans are engaged in their BAU activities even in these hardest of times barely thinking about their families. It has not only boosted my willpower but also brought in more positivity in life and more balanced mental equilibrium. “The show must go on” irrespective of anything and everything. I have passed on the same to my family, relatives and well-wishers so that their mental wellbeing is maintained and each one of them remain healthy both mentally and physically.

Whether you adopt yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, walking, running, exercising, playing musical instruments, reading books, blogging, listening to songs, watching movies and/or web-series, gardening etc., it’s individual choice to keep themselves upbeat during this catastrophic situation. Actually, for me it’s a blessing in disguise, every crisis provides an opportunity and covid-19 is no different. How we lift ourselves in these times is of paramount importance. When I peep through my balcony window in the morning, I see people applauding the activities of the sweepers and other street workers, which was not the case earlier. This is the positive impact that Corona has created in a short span. Team members and office colleagues have come closer than earlier. Mindset of people have started changing towards empathy and affection leading to more bonding amongst them. The need of the hour is to maintain business continuity and at the same time ensure family safety. This reminds me of Charles Darwin’s theory of the survival of the fittest. Each one of us need to be more disciplined in leading a healthy life and sustain a work-life balance. Scientists and researchers across the globe are working on the vaccine diligently to provide the much-needed relief to the entire humanity. The day is not far when we would see the normalcy back in our lives. I wish the corona virus allows the entire human race to lead a mask-free and sanitizer-free life. This reminds me of a famous quote from Michael Jordan – “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.”

Corona’s Other Side

The inevitable and the unimaginable has happened. Mother Earth has been weeping because of the deadly corona-virus disease. Almost the entire world is in standstill position, there is complete lock down. Economies shrinking than ever before, reminds people of ‘The Great Depression’ days and comparison has started between that and the current crisis. Companies have to let their professionals to operate remotely. The fear and anxiety among the masses has been increasing. In spite of this, the medical and police/security personnel continue to be the beacon of hope and strength by putting their lives at stake. Their indomitable courage and selfless service brings back the smile on Mother Earth’s face, which justifies that a brave man smiles at the time of adversity. This kind of attitude during this time inculcates in every individual the resolve to fight against this dreadful disease and I try to share the same with my little one too, who is six years old. During a telephonic conversation with my sister, came to know about some people who have been tested positive near her vicinity and she seems to be scared by that news. I asked her a simple question – “What would you have advised your brother to do if he were a doctor today”. She was speechless but the straight-forward response is that I have to do my job, which the policemen and medical professionals are doing it right now. They are not scared when they are in the proximity of the affected people. It has not only bolstered my willpower but also ignited the never-give up spirit. When I peep through the balcony window in the morning, I see people applauding the activities of the sweepers, which was not the case earlier. This is the positive impact that Corona disease has created in a short span. Families, relatives, friends and office colleagues have come more closer than earlier. Situation like this has united humanity than ever before. Mindset of people have started changing towards empathy and affection, which was declining in this era of self-absorbed society. Scientists, entomologists and researchers across the globe are working on the vaccine day in and day out to provide the much-needed relief to the entire humanity. The day is not far when we would see the normalcy back in our lives. I wish the corona virus shows “Karuna” (English meaning ‘compassion’) on the entire human race as early as possible. This reminds me of a famous quote from Michael Jordan – “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”