As the hullabaloo of the cricket world cup subsides and the heady emotions transmutes into introspection and analysis, it is a good time to think of the learning that fans, aficionados, consultants, experts, management, entrepreneurs and leaders et cetera can take out from the extravaganza that gave us a final for the ages that deserve a study in itself.Here are 4 points that I have gathered through the course of the World Cup that can play a pivotal role in meaningful successes of firms in the short and long-term.
Don’t Depend On Those At The Top To Perform Always
As was aptly highlighted in the semi-finals between India and New Zealand, being too dependent on the top order can leave the middle and lower order dangerously exposed, especially when it is inexperienced, and can cost the team dearly. India, which emerged from the group stages on the top spot with strong performances from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul & Shikhar Dhawan, was found wanting chasing a small total when the top 4 wickets fell cheaply and the following batsmen weren’t prepared to take on the added responsibility resulting in an excruciating defeat for the fancied team that resulted in their exit.
Likewise, when a team in an organisation is heavily dependent on the top management or top performers alone, the firm leaves itself precariously exposed when it comes to scaling up operations where resources are stretched to the limit and every member of the team is expected to lead their area of expertise. Being over-reliant on some limits the organisation's growth potential and can truly expose its frailties in the crunch moments. A casing point here is again the Pakistan team, which was so depended on the lone hands of Babur Azam, Mohammad Amir, and Shaheen Afridi in the later stages, that the team narrowly missed out on a trophy where they had recently won the Champions Trophy at.
So it’s not what he alone Kane, but what the team can. Kane Williamson just had to be mentioned here. :)
When Facing Challenges Or Opportunities It Is Always Better To Be Patient Than Flamboyant
West Indies was among the most watchable teams in the world cup blessed with the biggest hitters in the world like Chris Gayle, Carlos Brathwaite, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, along with mighty fast bowlers who can bring some searing heat with frightening bouncers like, Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel, and Sheldon Cottrell with his trademark salute celebrations. However, all this flamboyance seemingly counted for nothing when you look at the final standings, where they ended second from the bottom. Their over attacking batting and balling, which is exciting to watch and has earned them many followers; cost them many matches where they were in the driving seat to dictate terms.
In the business domain, be it a start-up or a tenured enterprise, unwarranted aggression while scaling up, or imprudent hiring policies or overestimated business prospects seriously dampens the inherent potential of a company. Balancing attack and defence, in keeping with the current situation, systematically gauged after deep analysis of macro and micro factors, will deliver the desired result rather than decisions dictated by what looks or feels nice at the moment, or just playing to the gallery.
So until the time is right, patience and poise will help to look past the clutter and noise.
It’s Not About How You Start But How You Finish
Many teams had a good start to the world cup whilst many began badly but that necessarily didn’t dictate where they finished in the grand scheme of things. The teams that began well like West Indies & Bangladesh faded in the crucial stages of the campaign, but teams like Pakistan that began abysmally, almost made the semis at the cost of New Zealand who had three straight losses, whilst England who didn’t look like qualifying in the middle of the tournament surged in the back end and eventually became world champions. So, rather than resting on the laurels of a good start or vilifying oneself for a bad beginning, it is crucial to keep the drive to excel going longer and stronger, even after promise of glory or illusions of ruin, and focus on the big picture and be ready to make the most of all the opportunities that might come your way. Therein, a firm who has a great beginning vis-à-vis clients, funding, pitch wins, awards and recognitions et cetera shouldn’t be satisfied with early accolades, as a firm’s reputation is cemented over the long run and it is the most consistent & motivated team that truly triumphs. Furthermore, a team that begins slowly and finds it hard to gain traction, can still surpass the competition by taking its time in building the team, its values, infrastructure and processes that best positions it to make the most of the boom time, along with the challenges progress throw up.
When it comes to glory, it is all about where and how you finish.
Diversity, Competition & Differences Makes You Stronger
In apropos, the true strength of the company is also its ability to handle various situations under trying circumstances that separate the great companies from the mediocre. The different ability to cope with demands of a competitive environment, calling upon the resources that are instilled in individual members, especially when the job at hand calls for a heightened level of creativity, innovation, skill and expertise, where successes are often dependent on minutiae factors, makes all the difference.
