It Paes to be Leander!

I must admit that I have been a great admirer of tennis legend Leander Paes. While my love for him began with his sharp volleys at the net, he has remained consistently at the top of my sporting chart for things beyond sport. If one wipes off the thin layer of dust on his numerous grand slams, one can easily find the shining example of a life extraordinaire. His recent victory at the Australian Open men's doubles along with Radek Stepanek is yet another example of how great partnerships start from trust and lead to glory.

Difference makes the difference: The interesting part about the partnership is that both Lee and Radek complement each other not only in styles but also in life. The former is a doubles legend and the latter is a promising singles player. Radek had never won Grand Slam and Leander only needed an Australian Open to complete his slam (winning all four). Both needed each other to make their dreams come true.  And that's what great teams are all about.

Ask and you shall receive: Leander has admitted in the press that before the start of the season he clearly communicated to Radek about his career aspirations. He was forthcoming on his inability to win the Australian Open and the Masters title—the two rare ones that eluded him the most. And Radek made it happen for him by helping him win Australian Open at the very first instance.  Now, coming back to our lives, do we always let our leaders know about our career aspirations? Ignorance is not always bliss.

Trust and it will work: When Leander and Radek decided to partner with each other; it was not a made-for-each-other story. For many reasons that made them feel it can work, there were many more which would have made them think twice. However, their trust in each other turned into magic on the court. When we work in teams, it is not always that we get to choose the colleagues we would love to work with. Many a time, they happen by chance or for reasons beyond our control. All it needs is a little trust to create magic.

So, it is not difficult to see how our commitment to success can be aided by team play—a relationship where we rejoice in the differences each team member brings to the table, a relationship that is open and transparent to clearly define expectations, and a relationship that is based on unrelenting trust. Be it the team play between a husband and wife in a marital setup, friendship, sports, or professionals at work—this is one prescription that universally works.