BELGIUM postponed hopes of an Indian resurgence, under new coach Michael Nobbs; by snatching victory in the last seconds of the Champions Challenge, played out in South Africa this Sunday. However, even in defeat, there might be signs of promise, which might bolster the sagging faith of the Indian hockey fan. The team played well for most part of the tournament, but unfortunately came unstuck during that critical period, which really defines champions.
The decline of the once legendary status of Indian hockey, does inform on many other levels as well. It brushes a vivid metaphor of interest to many in the corporate world. The need to rekindle, a once formidable equity, is a challenge that does take some overcoming. And as Indian hockey, attempts to piece together its myth again, their efforts are worthy of close scrutiny, by all those dwelling in the white collar world.
Forgetting the past
When one is faced with a past like that of Indian hockey, it casts an intimidating shadow on all future endeavors. Eight Olympic hockey gold medals symbolize that all the Indian team once needed, was to turn up for the competition. But the change of the playing surface signaled the morphing of hockey, into a completely different ball game. What once got us success was simply not relevant any more.
Likewise many companies build colossal statures in their domains. These actually become detrimental to growth, in rapidly changing environments, because the propensity of the company to change is always impaired by its history. Fleeter of foot competitors, soon rise to the top, and change the rules of the game. And the old champion is left grappling with a glorious past, which promises little in an uncertain future.
Reframing ambition
It is sad that, while India has long dropped out of the top six in world hockey, ambitions of the media and the general public have never been similarly downgraded. It is high time that people realize, that finishing in the top six at the next Olympics, will be a tremendously significant achievement, even if it means that the team returns home again without a medal. The path of resurrection, will be long, it might need a refurbishing of the game at the grass root level, before the nation can begin to expect medals of any color. One of the other challenges for the hockey authorities; is to visibly and consciously downplay the team’s ambitions. More modest statements about prospects are the need of the hour.
When a giant in one domain, enters another one, it is best served by keeping a low profile these days. Knowledge in one field, seldom translates into emphatic success in a completely different one. Only by skillfully managing the expectations of everyone involved, can such a transition be made with any success at all. The old adage, of being the last to laugh; does entail that a new player needs time to grasp the tone and idiom, of the fresh domain.
Building heroes
Any sport needs to build its heroes, before it begins to fire the imagination of the general public again. After the exit of Dharaj Pillay, Indian hockey has missed an icon that can catalyze conversations in social settings. Newer recruits to the game, also gravitate towards it, because of the charisma of the heroes they witness. Building heroes is not an optional strategy in the resurgence of Indian hockey, it is an essential one.
And there were sparks on show this tournament. Sardar Singh, whose confident close control deep in defense, was so reminiscent of the legendary Pargat Singh. Then there was Shivendra Singh, with his exciting predatory instincts. And S.V. Sunil, whose mesmerizing runs on the right wing, reminded one of the superb skills of Mukesh Kumar.
Even corporations need to pay close attention, to their strategy in building their stars. In an era where companies are usually represented by a few key faces, having them seen in the best possible light is absolutely essential. Also given that the current white collar generation, is perhaps motivated by ‘the glory of the self’; building heroes at every level, might serve the organizations interest, in terms of employees pushing their performances, to become ‘the faces in the crowd’.
Fostering the right temperament
Indian hockey players have always been blessed with an abundance of skill. But a lack of temperament, and bad decision making, will come back to haunt them as far as this tournament goes. With India bossing the game at 3-1, the otherwise excellent defender Raghunath executed a reckless tackle; which not only resulted in a temporary suspension, thus reducing the team to ten men, but also gave Belgium the necessary impetus to stage a comeback. It is not a cliché that sport is played more in the mind, than on the field. It is a telling truth, which every player needs to understand and imbibe these days.
In a similar vein, modern day white collar workers find situations where their temperament is under severe scrutiny. These usually are career defining moments, and those employees who withstand that ‘test of fire’, are those who usually rise. Building the team’s skills at a temperament level; is something which new age companies, need to consciously address. Training their teams to keep calm and think under tremendous duress; is an investment which just might bear fruit, when the company is under the intense pressure of achieving a breakthrough. Eventually nerves are bound to snap, in the frenzy of goal mouth action.
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Finally as Indian hockey seeks to rise like again like a phoenix, it is imperative that they have the unconditional support of the Indian sporting fan. This is a sport, which first gave us a national identity on the world stage. And as the team strives hard to enter another Olympic competition, the change in fortune and times should serve to remind all those in the corporate world. That great success is always fleeting, and that the game can change instantly, from under one’s very feet…
