Which was your best match of your life, asked a journalist to an Indian Hockey Ex-Captain. Surprising to the interviewer’s expectation, he narrated a match where he did not score a single goal. When asked why, the hockey champ narrated his story of how he was the focus for his competitors in that match, and this enabled him to make provision for his fellow player to score the winning goal. He said the best part of this match was that rather than he himself making the winning goal, he enabled conditions for his team-mate to make a goal and his team to win the match. Absolutely brilliant !
Not always does an individual’s win means a team win. This is so true even in a business organizations. It is a team work that enables organisations to succeed and repeat it multiple times so as to sustain success. A holistic atmosphere and a cohesive approach is the key. It is true that individual leaders are the ones who make teams successful, however, it is equally vital that the leaders allow the team-mates to evolve on their performance and amidst opportunities. There are often timid participants in a team, who need to come out of their shell and they need the right moment and conducive environment to make this happen. There are also some participants who excel in one area, but need to get coached in other areas, to enable an overall and holistic development. The team leader needs to be an enabler for all such participants. There may not be a one-shoe-fits-all approach but a tailor-made one required for all, based on the situation and context. This needs to be learnt by the leader by thinking on the feet as well as by being alert and aware.
If an organization is able to nurture an attitude of enabling, it could go far. The feature of enabling acts like a catalyst, which enhances the flavor of an activity. Its absence may still allow the activity to be completed, however, its presence makes a difference. The role of an enabler is like a turbocharger in a car, boosting the performance significantly, and providing a kick. It does require an additional element of dedication (resource /cost) however, the investment is worth the price and effort. Often, investing in producing a conducive environment and developing a positive atmosphere, does the magic, of emerging enablers getting evolved. Majority of the nay-sayers tend to forget their nay-say by just immersing in this environment. What then gets developed is an urge and an aspiration to perform and win, rather than lose and get dejected. There is nobody to pull back, and all that one is surrounded by, is only enthusiasm and hope. If there no weeds in the bush, there is no way the damage would happen.