Dhoni took an unbelievably short time to prove his mettle as the captain and if the Twenty20 World Cup performance is anything to go by, India has found its 'Captain Cool' in the star batsman-stumper with flowing tresses. Could it be sheer luck and the rejoiced crowd is giving him a whole lot more credit or did Dhoni really rise to the occasion?
His maturity, composure and ability to handle high pressure stood out in all the matches. His decisions to have Uthappa, Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh to take the bowl out against Pakistan in the Group match, or his pick to have Joginder Sharma bowl the last over in the matches against Aussies and Pakistan, seemed to have well thought out and prepared. Dhoni seemed to have cracked one of the magic formulae, something that many take years to learn. It appeared that Dhoni had run every “what if” scenario in his head well in advance. He never appeared to be unprepared for any situation, including the most unexpected ones.
If one were to draw analogies between the roles that Dhoni played in leading a team in a dynamic game, to a corporate business leader, it seems like Dhoni probably had a much difficult job. There are several learning one could gain from the cricket field - universalize the learning to translate them to a leadership position.
On the Feet person: A leader’s ability to think on his / her feet and to take decisions without instructions is what sets a true leader apart. Those who are caught unaware and can thrive in making the right decision in those unprepared moments have usually proved to have the right acumen to handle difficult situations – a must for every leader. In today’s business world, changes are not unusual; they are the norm and define a superior leader from others.
Team is not a group of individuals: A top level captain has to turn a group of talented individuals into a smoothly running team, and produce results that please the fans of his / her team, the shareholders of the athletic program. What's most important is working as a team toward a common goal--not necessarily to win the game, but to play the best possible game.
Play well in all conditions: It is often said that, “A boss tells others what to do…a leader shows that it can be done.” In sports like Cricket, it is said that a great player is one who is able to play well in all conditions. A powerful hitter of the ball, Dhoni has shown the maturity to restrain his aggressive nature and play a responsible innings when the situation required. Whether batting at No. 3 or No. 6, one must know that they have to go on to the field and perform. At No. 3, the requirement is a big innings. At No. 6, the team would want you to finish things well. It is no different game on a corporate pitch either, where the ball could be could be coming at a different speed than what one may be prepared for.
Keep the scoreboard moving: What is important in both cricket and business world is to keep the score moving or the difference of the goal could widen and playing catch-up becomes astonishingly difficult. It is important to hit every ball and keep the scoreboard moving. The outcome of the matches didn’t seem to deter Dhoni one bit and analysts say that’s been his strength. Not worrying much about the outcome, but playing on.
Productivity is a matter of the heart and is possible to achieve only if the leader is passionate about his / her work. A leader may have to face several adverse situations in many spheres and on many occasions. Thus, it is imperative that one likes his/her work because then, adversity will not prove too cumbersome. A strong passion for what one does sets a true leader apart from others. If pursuing what one really likes, the person is usually driven by a sense of broader purpose. As Edison, the scientist-entrepreneur-innovator described “I never worked in my life. It was all fun.”
Just as ideas beget ideas and money attracts money, excitement has the same charm. A leader who is not excited himself can hardly excite others in different situations. If Dhoni continues to demonstrate these skills in his following games, corporate world has a lot of watch and learn a lesson or two from the cricket field.
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Ms Neelima Rao is an alumnus of TISS and currently heads Human Resources at Market Rx, USA . She has significantly contributed to the development of the Center for Social and Organizational Leadership ( C SOL) at TISS and is the chairperson designate of the project "The Blue Lotus"
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