Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most brilliant captains in Indian cricket history. An outstanding batsman, an excellent wicket-keeper, and a powerful leader- “the captain cool” is famous not only for his calm and composed demeanor, but also for his power-packed batting style. When Virat Kohli was selected to lead the national cricket team of India, he made it clear that replacing Dhoni was not an easy task because Dhoni has left a remarkable legacy as a captain.
He has developed an extraordinary reputation for being one of the greatest leaders that the game of cricket has ever seen. He has shown that leadership is not just about passing out orders, but a sheer willingness to make tough decisions and go out of the way to achieve your designated goals.
Not just an extraordinary captain and leader, Dhoni also swiped many awards and bagged several records including the most wins by an Indian captain in Tests and One Day Internationals.
India won the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20, the Commonwealth Bank Series of 2007–08, the 2010 Asia Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy under his captaincy.
His list of achievements is so long that we can write a book on that. But there is one amazing trait of our former Indian captain that deserves special mention is his leadership skills.
M.S. Dhoni has an arsenal of leadership skills that entrepreneurs can certainly apply both personally and professionally. Here are five incredible leadership traits that are a useful template for business captains too:
1. Stay Confident & Grounded
Confidence is the key to success and M.S Dhoni is the best example of that. Even though he comes from a very modest background, he never let that hold him back from achieving his dreams. On the field or off the field, Dhoni is always confident and forthright and often surprises his fans, audience, and media with his witty comments.
Staying true to yourself will not just take you aheadin the sporting world, but also in the corporate as well as the business world.
2. Stay Cool & Composed
M.S. Dhoni has earned the title of “Captain Cool” due to his calm and composed demeanor on the field even during nail-biting moments. Even when severely tested, he manages to not lose his temper which used to influence the entire team to resist caving in. He kept inspiring the team like the best motivational speaker to perform at par no matter what the situation is.
This is one of the most crucial leadership skills for entrepreneurs to keep calm and not give up when the situation is not in their favor.
3. Don’t Let Success Get Over Your Head
Dhoni received fame, name, and wealth at the very initial stage of his career. But he was and still is, humble and modest. He did not let the success get over his head while maintaining a steady path.
We often see that entrepreneurs who gain success too early often lose their focus and balance. They are unable to maintain the poise that is required for the business’s success in the long run.
4. Don’t Lose Focus
To remain focused on your goals amidst all the criticism is no child’s play. But Dhoni showcased his indomitable spirit of remaining focused on what is important during the Champions Trophy amidst the controversy that surrounded the Indian Premier League.
An ability to cut through the clutter, distraction, and negative energy is one of the best marks of a strong leader in every situation. If you want to become a powerful leader, you can hire one of the best leadership speakers in India– Dr. Vivek Bindra.
5. Handling Failure
Handling failure is as important as handling success. And no one has ever done it better than the former Indian captain M.S Dhoni himself. In the 2011 World Cup, Dhoni and his team were performing spectacularly but then suffered a string of losses. However, the captain cool fought back by showcasing a world-class game of cricket combined with his high spirits.
Ups and downs are part of an entrepreneurial journey. Businesses tend to suffer some degree of failure at some point or the other. But, if you want to be successful, you will have to have the courage and strength to bounce back without losing faith in your dreams.
Entrepreneurs should feel safe to experiment and fail if they need to. Managers must also come to terms with the fact that no organization or department can achieve its goals without its respective team members.
M.S Dhoni is known not only for his famous ‘helicopter shot’ and his excellent class of game but also for his unmatched leadership skills and team spirit. Young entrepreneurs can learn big lessons from him about how resilience and focus can help their businesses to grow.
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