The Weakest Player’s Guide to Leadership
Lessons from Leading Underdogs to Victory Against Stronger Teams
When two captains divide a group of 23 into two teams for a game, one person has to be left out. That person is me.
It’s not their fault. If I hold a mirror, I know I’m the weakest and the least talented one. But throughout my life, irrespective of all embarrassments and shortcomings, I’ve always chosen to play a sport.
This active participation has deeply taught me a lesson:
Great leadership isn't about talent. It's about elevating others.
Here are 2 condensed episodes that impacted me.
How leaders brought the best out of me
Story 1
When I was 10, playing cricket in the streets of Srivilliputhur, I used to get smashed while bowling. My batting was non-existent. Repeated failures.
Shyam, a young college guy, would sometimes watch me play on weekends. One day, he called me aside and taught me two basic things: how to bowl leg spin and off spin.
I became the Warne of my street. It totally changed my performance and he started inviting me to play with him. Proud moment.
Story 2
When I was 15, I spent a summer in Bangalore and got to show off my bowling skills in front of some serious city talent. The group was wild. Kids as young as 8, men in their 20s, all playing cage cricket.
I was the new kid with some sneaky bowling. Some liked me, some didn’t. I started strong. But soon, people figured me out and began smashing me all over.
My captain, someone I won’t forget, pulled me aside. Gave me a quick pep talk, and more importantly, clear guidance. Where to pitch the ball — short, length, full. What spin to bowl to left- and right-handed batters.
I was the star again.
How I brought the best out of my team
Post high school, I got to lead a few teams. How? You might ask.
Because my teammates were never the star performers others picked. They were the leftovers.
But they were underdogs with workable talents.
Beware. We’ve beaten some strong teams. Every one of those wins taught me something deep.
I’m not a talented individual. But I have this crazy ability to inspire, create trust, and push average players beyond their usual level.
Recently, I played pickleball along with a partner who should be his late 40’s. We play pickleball once a week, ended up facing off against two pros. These guys play daily. Big power shots, sharp dinks, tons of flair.
On paper, the game was already theirs. But we quietly set a David versus Goliath narrative.
We started moonballing in pickleball form. Moonballing is a slow and deep lob shot. It is very effective against impatient players. Especially the ones with ego.
I kept talking to my partner. Focus on basic returns. Cut down unforced errors.
Of course I made silly mistakes. Felt angry at myself. But I pulled it back. Became more mindful. More deliberate. Won key points.
We fed off each other’s energy. Confidence built up despite setbacks.
We let them generate all the power. Just returned calm, basic dinks. No fancy stuff.
And if they were that talented, let them earn every point.
They started cracking. Shots into the net. Shots out of bounds. Then came tanking.
Tanking is an ass move. It is when the opponent goes,
“Yes, you’re beating me, but only because I’ve decided not to try.”
Bullshit.
We broke their confidence. And we won.
I’ve seen this same playbook work again and again across every game I’ve led.
I'll now leave you with three key points to remember. If you remember anything about this post, remember these:
Give people space to be accountable
Double down on strengths
Know when to push and when to have their back. Some people need challenge while some need reassurance. The output would be exponential