Lessons from School’s Basketball League

Arpita’s school’ Vivek High Sector 70; has started a new initiative where the parents will be involved in the school basketball league; as managers or as coach. This league will have three sections and each section has 6-8 teams. They play basketball among themselves and the aim is to build sportiveness with young kids.

I have volunteered to be coach of ‘Royals’; which is Arpita’s team. We had our first weekend matches and it was fun working with kids, motivating them, working out the strategy and rejoicing in their win. Trust me, it’s not a simple job to coach J

I learnt few lessons in this coaching work:

·         Kids Execute Really well: It was amazing to know that kids have excellent power to execute the plan once decided. Before both the matches we worked out a strategy and each and every kid worked as per the designed plan; be it was defender or point guard. It was told them that you need to guard couple of good shooters from the opposition and our defenders exactly did that. The kids switched their game as per the tempo of the situation; between defense and offence styles.

·         Strategy works: Another lesson for me is to notice that strategy works. During one of the games, we clearly laid out a plan as who should play what role in the overall strategy of the game. Due to this, we could able to contain the opposition. The plan was to contain school’s best shooters and the strategy was to deploy two guards who will watch those two shooters. It worked out so well that the shooting really struggled; while our defenders do this our offence took chances and did baskets to end in a winning note.

·         Kids express great emotions: Kids now a days show lots of emotions and bondage as a team. Imagine 8 year old kids discussing strategy with coach and coming back with suggestions that some part is not working fine.

Main focus area for me is to build the team spirit; if everyone thinks about the team and understand the role he/she is playing towards winning of the game; that is half job done. And I truly believe it’s a learning for the life.

I must appreciate school’s initiative to bring parents to the league and it’s amazing to be part of this. I am really enjoying my role and each day is a great learning experience for me to work with kids.

Why do we need Leaders?

“Select 100 lions and make a dog as their leader; all the lions will die like dogs. Select 100 dogs and make a lion as their leader, all dogs will fight like lions”.

This is a statement I read in Facebook sometime back. Though it will be a bit exaggerated story (With all due respect to Lions and Dogs); but it sums up the importance of having a good leadership or having a good 

leader to lead us, direct us and do a course correction.

I have seen multiple examples and read about many stories; where lack of proper leadership has impacted the company’s future. Though it might be datable; but in current scenario companies like TCS, Cognizant, HCL; which seems to have a solid leadership seems to be doing better in this time of crisis where the whole industry seems to be under pressure.

Recently I came to know one of our customers has initiated a change; the fundamental business processes is being rediscovered. This needs a great amount of thought processes before you embark such journey. Earlier leadership didn’t understand the importance of this change and thus never been able to make any dent. But, change in leader bought in a sea difference and now I see a huge difference in the mindset of other employees of customers.

This raised a question in my mind. How important this leadership is?

Simple reason of why some companies are successful and some are not? 

Road Trip

I had been to a road trip recently when I went for a vacation.

I did many things, walked, hiked, enjoyed rain, witnessed a flooded river; blocked road, just formed waterfalls. Prayed to god and got lost. Amazingly beautiful nature, excellent people and royal sea shore.

More importantly I learnt how to breath!!

It was much needed break and allowed me to spend some time to myself.

I spoke to many people; a professor, a priest, a high school teacher, a farmer, an old age man with many difficulties. Enriching experience!!

After I came back; I went to Manali for office trip; it was an excellent experience. I lived my dream. Walked, did fishing, spoke and more ever just connected back to self. Manali was never so beautiful.

Amazing time spent.