M.S.Dhoni , Virat Kohli , Rohit Sharma or Babar Azam. All giants of their game. Played a lot of games and hit a lot many winning knocks for their countries during their effective playing times. The nation clapped ... cheered and celebrated ... treated them like demi Gods.
But those who do not know how to recognize their sun-setting times and move on gracefully, see an ignominious closure to their innings. Unfortunately, such closure is not one of their choice but one that is forced on them nor at the time of their calling.
Life of celebrities and powerful leaders runs that risk. You are vulnerable. Even if you have been a master of the game, comes a time even that the game just moves out on you. May be that's the order of nature.
Thus it is much better for celebrities and leaders to do a genuine self-assessment of their performances - this one time for themselves and not their Managers. And if you genuinely believe that you have tried your best, put in all your energy to get your form back but despite are unable to get on to the performing band-wagon, then self declare it as 'Time to gracefully GO !'
Look out for these 5 signals ...
1. Does your body now ask for rest more frequently than it used to ? Are you experiencing loss of concentration ? If yes, it's time to gracefully exit.
2. Ask authentic people you trust to give you objective feedback ...'well wishers', not ones who are 'well' wishers ( who would love to see you in the well !). Do not wave off their suggestion.
3. When your deputy's performance objectively is consistently better than yours and he is now impatient and his decision is valued more than yours, surely, that is time to go
4. Ears to the Ground : If you are listening to the murmuring sounds of the team, it will clearly indicate if you are overstretching your welcome. Observe behaviours of the support staff.. it will subtly give you indications. Hear their voices, read their behaviours
5. If your objective self evaluation concludes that your best performance is in the past and you self doubt your ability to recreate that magic, it is time to go.
Do not let closure of your innings obliterate the great performance records you have set during your career high times.
Celebrate your successful moments. Do not indulge yourself such that your closure becomes the cause of your hi point performances being under-rated or lost.
As you move on, maybe hire a PR agency to hight -light your career performances and contributions. Tell your story well and 'Go like a legend'
Go Champion Go. Go before the same cheering crowd now jeers ! There are no love stories. Beyond its season, every fruit ripens and then unfortunately rots. Even King Mango ! Leave before they drop you out of the fruit salad. Read the signals.
This is not only about cricket. It is about leadership in all spheres - sports, social, political or corporate. Great Leaders go with grace.
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