IPL and business: Performance-led

With two top cricketers of the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathew not being able to sustain the rigour of the expectations at IPL 2013 and having to be dropped off the captaincy and then making a comeback after a breather, we can just imagine the entrenched competition that exists. As a close follower of the 2013 edition, let me share a few parallels to Sri Lanka business.

Pick up 1 – Healthy dressing room

Suresh Rainer of Chennai Super Kings cracked 100 off just 53 balls against the Kings xi Punjab last week and he became the highest run getter in the IPL history. When asked what the key was to his continued performance, the response was very clear.

“A healthy dressing room created by the Captain and seniors helps to spruce performance on the field. This includes playing table tennis, pool and listening to music. The objective is getting to know the player as the person. This builds positive vibes in a competitive and a tense environment.”

Business link: When was the last time that you did the same with your team in office? If you have not done this recently, may be its time you acted on this as it’s a pick up from the sporting world that has worked. Creating the positive vibe and knowing the person – it drives strong action.

Pick up 2 – Stepping back

The great Ricky Ponting, together with Sangakkara and Mathew, had to take a back seat for a few matches and give another a chance to lead the team until they were ready to lead again.

Business link: This is the reality in the world of business. In some key business discussions, the winning formula is talent and chemistry and the best can be for a team member to do that task rather than the leader. Allow this and have the maturity to find that talent and give the opportunity. At INSEAD, it’s called maturity management.

Pick up 3 – Trust technology

Edition 2013 has been a twirl, given that teams 3, 4 and 5 are yet at the same point as at last night and the only differentiator is the net run rate. Given the money involved and reputation of the owners and players, umpires have to lean on technology for decision making.

Business link: We in the business world have no option too. Be it selection of media or finding out consumer brand pick-ups, the decisions have to be backed up with technology and data. Hence, being technologically savvy is mandatory for a successful business leader. You have to be on FB, Twitter, YouTube, email, Skype, media tracking devices or for that matter how to use your mobile phone for planning work.

Pick up 4 – Level-headed

Sandeep Singh of Kings Punjab to my mind is my find of edition 2013. The rising star as branded by Indian media, he was India’s Vice Captain Under 19, and World Cup campaigner in 2010 whilst also representing Ranji Trophy before the age of 21. Given the fame and recognition earned, the only way to keep the performance going is by being level-headed.

Business link: This holds ground even in the business world. Take it or leave it, we are shouldering responsibility that our fathers shouldered at retiring age. So, unless we can have the same level-headedness that reflects not on the vehicle you drive or the address you live at, you cannot sustain the performance that today’s business world calls for.

Pick up 5 – Star issue

Even though Mumbai Indians are star studded on paper with the Tendulakars and Malingas, the fact of the matter is that they are struggling against the youthful talent of teams and the aggressive dynamism of rising stars. Hence the only way out is to relax and arm yourself with the skill set required rather than allow your reputation to be in the front, which is a sure way to fail.

Business link: This is the reality in the business world too. Companies are choosing new kids on the block and giving them responsibility in the board room that sometimes drives companies to acquire and divest business that sometimes were part of the knitting. Hence the only way out is to equip oneself with skills rather than demand recognition by way of age and experience. The latter has lesser impact in the new age world.

Pick up 6 – Innovation award

Strange but true; the 2013 edition has introduced a new award called ‘Most Innovative Performance’ that has called for teams to try new things that can edge the team to success. After all, be it a bowler, batsman or fielder, for one to innovate it will call for writings in books – be it the scoop or the Chris Gayle shots that have not got branded as at yet.

Business link: It’s time that we extend this spirit in the business world. Be it at the monthly sales meeting, brand review discussion or at the board room as the fact of the matter is that there is a sea change happening out there in the market place and unless we come out with new ways of doing business, things can get rough.

Pick up 7 – 175 runs

Dropped from the West Indian team some years back, Chris Gayle at 33 years has carved out a niche on the global stage by cracking 175 runs, which has become the fastest 100 in any form of the game. Sometimes I wonder if teams will yet score over 200 even if a 10 over edition is introduced.

Business link: I guess the courage to fight back still exists in the world of business. It’s all about courage and passion that gets you ahead in today’s world. The land of opportunity exists for those who keep trying and making themselves the biggest enemy to beat. But this requires discipline and continued commitment to perform.

Pick up 8 – No fear

When 18-year-old Sanju Samson was sent by Rajastan Royals team hierarchy when the challenge was to get 36 runs in just under three overs, most commentators questioned the decision. The logic prevailed later on as at 18 years, one does not have fear in one’s approach. Sanju won the game for Rajastan Royals and is on every single headline of IPL reporting.

Business link: This is true of business too. We see how youngsters are appointed to drive brands and companies at such a young age and given that they have no fear of failure as they are unknown in the world of business, groundbreaking strategies have been given birth to in the last six months in the world of business. But we see that the CEOs of tomorrow have to be trained in maturity management given the cut-throat competition that is prevalent in a depressed market of today.

Pick up 9 – Cannot execute

When Ravi Rampal was asked why the Rajastan Royals were not up there given the talent that exists in the team be it Kohli, Gayle to name a few, his answer was sharp: “We could not implement the plan we wanted.”

Business link: This is key in today’s world. What is required is gold standard execution to get results and not bound documents that have plans and strategies. So the best is to work towards simple one page directional documents with key initiatives is the new ethos. I guess that why Twitter is not popular in Sri Lanka – one has to express oneself in 140 characters

Pick up 10 – Dravid Legacy

Rahul Dravid after having retired from the game of cricket, and focusing on dropping his son and daughter at school and eating strawberry jam for breakfast, has made a comeback to show the youngsters what a 40-year-old can do.

Business link: This signals a new ethos to performance. It’s not about age but how fit one is practically. This is called corporate athletism at Harvard Business School; a new discipline introduced to an MBA curriculum.

 Conclusion

So whilst IPL is sometimes referred to as pyjama cricket, I guess it holds grounds for learning in the corporate world. The question is, how many are receptive to cross parallel learning?

(The author is a corporate personality and marketer by profession. He has Black Belt in Karate and can be contacted on [email protected]. The thoughts are strictly personal and not the views of the organisation he serves in Sri Lanka or internationally.)