What I learnt shuttling between IPL matches and my work
The Indian Premier League is on. 20 overs, 8 teams, a billion fans. With everyone bleeding yellow, blue, red, pink, etc, this season made me pause and review what I can learn from this.
Being a Chennai Super Kings (A team in the IPL 2020 representing Chennai) fan, this season hasn’t been very promising for us. For a team that is led by the best, has qualified for every single playoff, the expectations were sky high and the performance has been quite different from the usual ‘CSK style’. When I don’t watch or play cricket, you can find me jumping from one zoom call to another managing projects and trying to make a tiny difference in my own way in the big SaaS world. There’s an ongoing question in which a few of them ask me what I would learn from watching all of these matches. It intrigued me to draft my interpretation of the skills, intent, leadership and much more the management folks can learn from our 2020 season.
It’s better to try and fail than not try at all
Even though we knew the blocks weren’t strong enough, the team continuously tried to experiment with our batting top order. At the end of the day, spare some time to think, what could have been different today, what can be different tomorrow. Change, adapt, rethink your structure.
It’s okay to experiment and fail. But remember to pivot/tweak your strategy before it’s too late.
Feedback is the breakfast of champions
Feedback. A process that we sometimes take for granted but also something we know and realize to be a very important part of learning. Fans took to social media to express their displeasure in including Kedar Jadhav game after game despite him not being in ‘form’ as they call it. Despite a tonne of feedback, the team had the player in the playing XI and that proved to be a major red flag. What we can take away from this move is that we need to keep our ears wide open when our customers speak. Be open to feedback from team members, leads, the management, customers, partners, and try to pave a way forward using feedback from your mentors. Just like the grass needs mowing on a cricket field, we all need a trim and a grooming session once in a while to look great in the game.
Hearing out feedback from your customers/colleagues is key to identify areas of weakness and to improvise.
Core strategy = building the right team
When CSK went into the auctions this time around, the talk was the team was not often seen taking too many deviations from their traditional approach. Creating a balanced team is something that defines a win or a loss. For instance, the exclusion of Imran Tahir from the playing XI for a straight 10 games didn’t work very well as a strategy for the team. The people you choose for each task, to perform, execute, and succeed, defines your strategy.
When the openers are promising but fail to perform, it’s to the middle order to hold in the pressure, much like the team selection for CSK this year where aggressive middle-order folks were missing, the people in your team that will strike sixers from the word go.
Keep your core strategy at the center before formulating new ones.
Age>Experience or Experience>Age
A very usual egg first, chicken first for many teams.
CSK has been rebuked for not bringing in young energy to the ground. More than 50% of the players are in their 30s with many closing towards 40. T20 as we know it is inclined towards quick singles, big hits, quick wickets, fast fielders. When teams like Delhi, Mumbai which boasts of power hitters eye for a 200+ total in every match, you need a squad that also brings fresh energy and intent to the team. Whether it is age or experience, talent is tangential and it counts. Sit and jot down what you can learn from each of it once a week with your team, goals, and objectives will no more be grey clouds in your clear sky.
Experience matters, but, there has to be a driving force to get things done. This is where having a mix of experience+youth in your team derives the best.
Diversity
A diverse team can bring varied experiences, skills, and also compliment the gaps. Young lads enthusiasm and energy with veterans experience is a killer combination for success. Focus on it, bring out the strengths in diversity, balance it out well, make sure the vibe is great and positive. Something which I saw lacked major in the team in this IPL, given the bench strength of youngsters we have.
Build a team for all situations and trust your new hires/freshers to deliver their best by giving them the right opportunities.
On Leadership
Something CSK has/is/will lack is a leader for tomorrow. As Dhoni enters his 40s next year, a lot of eyebrows will be raised to see who will lead CSK from here. Sure, there is Raina, but given that the next year’s auction will only allow 3–4 player retention’s, retaining Raina is doubtful given the absence this year. And with Dhoni’s uncertainty with next year’s IPL, it’s definitely a cliffhanger.
Start building leaders for tomorrow. Investing in leadership skills goes a long way for an organization’s growth.
Team matters more than one
Each one contributes on different occasions and also backs each other up when the order was crumbling down. There is no orange or purple but we needed the team to work together and win as a team and not individually. An organization, when dependent on those few key players might be playing a risky card. Build a team, build togetherness. Align the team together and create a thriving team spirit.
From the many learnings we can derive from sports to management, here are some of my favorites which I plan to execute back in my workspace. As for CSK, the team remains our favorite and we can’t wait to roar again when it's our time again. Shows our resilience, right? Ok, maybe I should stop here!
