THE NEW year opened with Lionel Messi bagging the Ballon D’or-the trophy celebrating the best soccer player in the world, for a record fourth time. In beating off stiff competition from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta, Messi has blazed a trail of footballing excellence, which will unequivocally illuminate the game for years to come. The ‘atomic flea’, as he is fondly called by his myriad fans, has perhaps ensured a quantum leap in expectations, about just what is possible on a football pitch.
But in shining as an individual, in this arguably the most team oriented of sport, there are other interesting parallels that his success brings to the fore. In fact the whole process of how the Ballon D’or unveils; presents interesting insights, for those seeking to leave Messi like imprints in the business world.
For too long the concept of strategy, has been only equated with organizational approaches to deal with the challenges at hand. And yet very little attention is paid to strategies at a purely personal level. Even when these are the very things which ensure one stands apart at the workplace. Hence in analyzing, what it takes to emerge as the World Player of the Year, one might just come across ideas which could help in the ascent on the corporate podium as well.
Making the best of one’s talents
Lionel Messi is physically far from an imposing specimen. Hardly the tallest or the strongest, Messi’s game does not rely on aerial prowess, or too much emphasis on his right foot. But as Daniel Day Lewis would concur, sometimes a left foot is all one needs. Get the ball on the ground, and there have been few in the long history of the game, better in possession. Messi’s left foot artfully maneuvers the ball around bemused defenders. It alternates between functioning like a scalpel and a sledgehammer-often with lethal effect. His small size and low center of gravity; enable him to turn with lightning quickness, further making him impossible to defend against. And if that is not enough, he has pace to burn.
Messi presents an interesting case, for concentrating on cashing in on your inherent talents, even if there are some glaring lacunae in your skill set. Frequently young employees try to cover all their bases, by stressing too much on their areas of weakness. While it is fine to alleviate competencies on facets where one falls short, an obsession with the same does little for one’s confidence. Understanding where one’s strengths lie, and seeking environments where the same will be valued, is a significant starting step in any career plan. Then gently nudging business conversations to one’s strong areas; is a craft which needs to be developed early on. Eventually ancient wisdom has always pointed towards seeking happiness with the gifts one has, and strangely modern day business or sport is no different.
Taking failures in ones stride
In the accolades being showered on Messi at the present moment, it is easy to forget his worst moment of the previous year. For a man who broke every scoring record, he would probably rue missing one goal more than any other. His inability to score past Peter Cech from the spot, in the Champions League semi-final, surely put a dampener on Barcelona’s hopes of progressing. The performance of many others, might have dipped dramatically after such a heartbreaking setback. But Messi’s simply soared, almost like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Failure is an inevitable ingredient in corporate life as well. No matter how hard one plans to try and avoid it, it is always likely to snare one in its folds at some time. But much as in sport; the champion employee is also defined by how she reacts to failure. Reframing the experience in a positive manner, helps some overcome pitfalls. Taking cognizance of one’s mistakes is another useful by product. Knowing that one will rise beyond this; is perhaps the most crucial attitude of all to develop. Much like in the case of Messi, when the mind is ready and willing, another glorious goal is always beckoning.
Being willing to take the center stage
It has often been argued, that given the free flowing, attacking nature, of Barcelona’s game, quite simply anybody could score goals by the dozen. While there might be a grain of truth in that, why is it always Messi who tops the scoring charts? In many ways, the whole mindset of goal scoring; is all about taking responsibility. It is about feeling at ease under the spotlight of high pressure.
Even at the office, there are many who fail to get their just rewards, because they are uncomfortable being at the front end of things. And just as the football world is a touch partial to the goal scorer, so does the corporate domain also give special credit to those who seem to be the ‘faces on the project’. Hence taking that extra step and being willing to present, or be heard in meetings, might sound like a simple enough proposition to begin with. But it can often make all the difference, between getting special credit for something, versus being lost in the melee that surrounds the celebration of a victory.
Making a long term commitment
Messi did not begin life in the Barcelona senior team wearing the coveted number 10 jersey. That honor belonged then to the brilliant Ronaldinho. Given how young explosive talents often think, it is easy to conceive that Messi might have wanted to seek other pastures, where he would instantly get top billing. But he chose otherwise. He stayed on and concentrated on his game. Perhaps he was also being loyal to the club, which had famously lifted him from obscurity as a child. And the rest is a slice of footballing history, which is still being penned. Interestingly it does not even seem possible at present; that Messi will ever go elsewhere.
Finding the right organization and being patient with one’s progress there, is perhaps the biggest challenge facing young talent entering the corporate world today. With patience diminishing faster than a defenders chance of catching up with Messi once he is past him; switching quickly between companies, has now become the norm. But Messi’s case illuminates an alternate approach-that of integrating oneself totally in the company’s culture. And then seeking success; both at an organizational and an individual level.
Conducting oneself with humility
Finally the Ballon D’or is a bit of a popularity contest, with the winner being decided by a voting process. And this is where Messi scores over his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, when it comes to one key facet. While both have extraordinary talents, along fascinatingly different lines; when it comes to popular perception, Ronaldo is seen as far more arrogant. Eventually human beings think with feeling and emotion. It is thus likely that even the ‘expert opinions’ of the international captains, managers and journalists, who constitute the Ballon D’or jury; find it a touch easier to lean towards Messi, rather than Ronaldo, when it comes to casting the final vote.
Even in the business world, consideration should always be given towards one’s perception at the workplace. Being aware of how peers, superiors and subordinates, view one’s attitudes is an important mindset to develop. In fact many decisions-from promotions and increments, to the landing of plum assignments; are driven more by these ‘softer feelings’, than people care to admit. It is instructive to always then have one’s feet on the ground, even if one’s eyes and ambitions are fixed skywards.
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In conclusion it can be said that Messi has been a star employee for both Argentina and Barcelona. And in analyzing what has made him that, one can perhaps uncover relevant lessons for one’s own match days at the office…
The writer is a creative thinking trainer and an independent brand consultant. He is the author of the book, ‘The Madness Starts at 9’ and also the patron saint of a footballing movement called Juhu Beach United, that celebrates, ‘the unfit, out of breath working professional of today’.
