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Building Innovative Organization Lessons from CHAK DE !!!

By

Prashant Y. Joglekar

After a long wait, I finally saw CHAK DE; reminiscences of this film will go down a

long way on the memory lane. I was really impressed with the way the theme was

selected & presented. There could not have been a better choice of the game than

HOCKEY to present this theme. I drew few lessons which I felt are very important in

building an Innovative Organization.

Lesson 1: Each team member need to understand that he or she is part of a larger

structure

In the self introduction scene, few players introduce themselves with the state theyrepresent. Coach Kabir Khan immediately expresses his displeasure towards this attitude,

as he believes that a cohesive team can only be built if each member recognizes that he orshe is part of a larger structure (India / Organization) and is not confined to a smaller part

( State / Division, Business Unit). This is ok when intra-state competition is on, but when

faced with outside competition then one has to remember that he or she is playing forIndias tricolor. One of the team members, Vidya Sharma, however introduces herself as

a representative of India and is chosen to lead the team. An organization can beinnovative, competitive & robust if all members realize that they are part of a larger

structure first. This also fosters the feeling of oneness which helps in building a cohesive

INNOVATIVE team that transcends divisional / state boundaries.

Lesson 2: Individual goals and agendas are always counterproductive and everyonein team is very very important

Two forwards try to become highest goal scorer at the cost of teams fortune. Coach

counsels them to realize that such an attitude is detrimental to the teams winning

chances. Heart counts of Innovative organization understand that they are equalcontributors in making their firm a winner by contributing towards smaller /bigger

innovations & ideas, because organizations compete not only on product & services butmainly on strength & team spirit of their HEARTCOUNTS.

Lesson 3 : Nothing unites & inspires a team like a common goal

McDonalds incidence unites the team. A rogue tries to misbehave with one of the teammembers & despite differences even at that in point time the whole team unites and teach

him a lesson. Later on this incidence helps the team in building a solid foundation.

Sometimes some of the businesses / unit can encounter with such a situation, but other

members should help them fight their battle with their Innovation & Knowledge Power &

see to it that they help destroy the devil. This is the power of WE.

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Lesson 4 : If you have talent, passion, commitment and attitude then you can make

underdogs win.

You cant always choose a genius to work for you, but you can make a genius out of anormal person. We look to big organizations say like TOYOTA and wonder how they &

their workforce are different. Its just because they believe in above mentioned attributes.

If we realize that even we have these attributes and stretch ourselves in achieving more

IDEAL goal, then nobody can stop us surpassing the best in the world and setting a new

benchmark.

Lesson 5 : Unless pushed to limit, your team will not perform at its best. People

always prefer easy things and it is difficult to overcome cynicism.

It is always better to keep higher targets because by so doing people are forced to thinkout of box and innovate. Of course this is easier said than done, but still this is the only

way. In case you keep lower targets, then people will work harder & not smarter. Toyotakeeps targets in multiples of 25.

Lesson 6: Dont keep the ball with you, pass it on. You can only win if you do this

In hockey / football, a team can only win in case the ball is passed on to the other players.Similarly the knowledge (explicit or implicit) needs to be passed. It is been said that

knowledge grows only if it is shared. The receiver, in the process of solving a problem or

looking out for a new opportunity needs to have new knowledge for which he looksaround to his own people (Just like in hockey forwards are moving ahead towards the

goal post and asking the centre forwards or full backs to pass-on the ball ). It is for thepeople who posses the knowledge (donor) to pass it on. We must remember that if we

pass the ball then only the goal will be scored. It is also receivers responsibility toacknowledge the donor for his passing efforts after he/she succeeds in putting the ball in

the goal post or even otherwise. These small acts blossom the team spirit.

Lesson 7 : The team must have HIGH Level of commitment; WIDE participation;

DEEP Interaction and LONG term view of benefits. Work together & Win together.Because sometimes WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

Understanding and respecting each others role & contribution in a team environment, is

the first essential step towards building a successful innovation ecosystem. This is the

single most important quality that Japanese have nurtured in them. WINNING thenbecomes a mere formality.

Lets Get Connected, Stay Connected,

Chak De