Prior to internationalization of Kabaddi (कबड्डी कबड्डी) in
late 1950s and early 60s we in the village used to play kabaddi (कबड्डी) with very simple accounting system that
determined winners or losers. All boys assembled got divided into two teams. While
playing, the boy lost the breadth or got touched by opponent or was touched by
the opponent was decaled dead (मर गया). He was made to sit outside the field. As
and when an opponent boy was declared dead (मर गया), then the other boy
was declared alive (जी गया) and he joined his team. This way the game carried on till one side
had no one left ie all dead (मर
गया). Those early
formative years of my life I realised the value of team while playing Kabaddi (कबड्डी). You were decaled dead due to team work of opponents
and you were declared alive due to the team work of own side. Kabaddi (कबड्डी). Gives us one of the best example of team
work.
There is no
doubt that the sports teams are the best examples of team as the adage goes
that the “Battle of Waterloo was won in the playing fields of Eton”. Besides,
in the field of Kabaddi, I realized and experienced the value of team when we had
to evacuate a wounded fellow soldier. He was wounded in an intense encounter
with a group of terrorists deep down in a mountainous terrain full of tropical
type of vegetations. He was to be brought to a place involving 5 km uphill
climb through a narrow winding track. The wounded soldier was secured to a
stretcher and carried by three teams of four of us changing every after 10
minutes. We managed to bring him to the helipad from where he was evacuated to
a Military Hospital and he survived after battling with his life for several
days. I have not seen in my 33 years of military life and 10 years working with
the United nations in Iraq and Syria, the teams by its efforts, cooperation,
dedication, zeal and efforts saving the life of a colleague. There are numerous
examples in the accounts of wars and battles, but this one was which I
witnessed happening.
May be the military
operation, sports field, corporate world or the world of any profession, the
success can only reach its peak with a team as described by Tom Rath and Barry
Conchie in the book “Strengths-Based Leadership”. An ideal and interdependent team looks like
this:
How do we build and operate
a Strengths-Based Team?
The first and
the foremost action is to know yourself, which has been covered in detail in my
previous blogs. The second most important aspect is to know your team members.
To build a successful team each member of the team must know the strengths,
values and other characteristics of each members. A strengths-based
Interdependent team will look like this:
Knowing each
other will increase the Open Areas when studied on the graphs of Johari Window.
What will happen
with the increase in the Open Area? It will increase the level of confidence in
each other. It will bring in respect and dignity while dealing with each other,
they will all understand as to why one behaves the way he/she behaves. It will
bring in Harmony amongst all. Member will be ever willing to support each
other. This will increase the productivity, reduce absenteeism, improve
employee engagement and will better the employee retention.
Assignment of
Responsibilities as per the Strengths.
The figures
illustrated below exemplifies as how to assign responsibilities in a balanced
team.
Bog by Satyendra Kumar of www.satyssparks.com
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