Abhishek & Ultimate | An Account of Feel Good, Find Great.

What changes when we support people as their full, whole selves?

“Our uniqueness makes us who we are, defines our choices and decisions. And choices that give us a sense of wellbeing are no different. Nourishing this sense of wellbeing, nurturing it, enables us to tap into people’s sense of greatness. Greatness at things that is unique to them. That is the lifeline of our culture and all wellbeing initiatives at Zenoti. And we stay true to it with all our might.”

- Panchali Das | Vice President Talent

At Zenoti, we feel strongly that acknowledging the full spectrum of what makes us who we are, allows us to shake the anxiety that limits us and frees us to find the greatness within. Our motto, ‘Feel Good, Find Great,’ is grounded in the idea that greatness exists in every individual.

For Abhishek Srinivas, Technical Program Manager at Zenoti, the 'feel good' is team sports. The field is the one place where Abhishek feels most himself. When he made the leap from student to employee, Abhishek found something that provided him not only competitive physical activity, but a strong sense of community – Ultimate Frisbee.

Don’t know much about ‘Ultimate?’ We didn’t either. But when we sat down with Abhishek to talk about his experiences with work-life integration, his passion for the sport, as well as its off-the-field benefits, were tangible. Before Abhishek (aka 'Cisa') left with his team to compete in the 2022 World Ultimate Masters Club Championship in Limerick Ireland, he shared insights on what he’s learned from years of integrating his athletic and professional pursuits at Zenoti.

"When I joined Zenoti …

I was thrilled to witness the distinct focus on the spectrum of wellbeing. With the intent of reinforcing a sense of purpose, every offering ensures people can embrace their surroundings, untangle their thoughts and bring their whole-self to work — for me it was off course my passion for sports and Ultimate that flourished at Zenoti.

This encouragement was explicit to the extent that when I shared my Ultimate Team, Learning to Fly would be attending the World Masters Ultimate Club Championships in 2022, Zenoti went the extra mile and offered to sponsor my team for the upcoming competition.

*** Abhishek represented his country at the 2015 World Beach Championships, the 2015 Asia Oceanic Championships, the 2016 World Ultimate Championships, and won the Spirit of the Game medals at both World and Asian championships in 2015.?(Suffice it to say, he’s pretty good.)?***

There are two things I love doing – talking to and helping people including customers, and playing sports. Especially Ultimate Frisbee.

Both are vastly different but end up giving me experiences which are very similar – humbling, rewarding, and on many occasions eye opening.

While I have honed most of my skills on the sports field - I discovered my limitations and understood my strengths better. At Zenoti, embracing the ‘Feel Good’ has helped me ‘Find Great’ to operate at my full potential. Along the way I have learnt some life lessons which act as the fundamental building blocks to operate at my full potential in the professional world.

Here are some of them:

LIVE CONFIDENTLY WHILE EMBRACING GROWTH

I feel my true self is best expressed on the field. Emoting to situations on the field has made me comfortable expressing myself within the walls of the office as well.

Sharing my true self with Zenoti has helped my colleagues and teammates understand me better. That leads to better camaraderie and stronger results indeed (we’re engineers, so sometimes don’t talk much!).

Feeling good on the field regularly unlocks the confidence to pursue the big things at work and not feel inhibited.

ADAPTABILITY & VERSATAILITY

When on the field, there is absolutely nothing else I can think of. I say nothing, I mean?absolutely nothing?apart from the present moment.

On the field, I receive information around me and execute what’s needed to help the team perform.

This has directly impacted my work – the ability to practice ‘Be Here Now’ and focus on the present moment.?

As an athlete, we work different limbs of the same body with a shared goal. This means that we often don many roles within the team to ensure the best outcomes.

Practicing this approach on the field has made me adaptive and able to find my footing in any role at Zenoti and make a mark.

COMMUNICATION & RESILIENCE

Ultimate is a unique sport as it is self-refereed.

We all know the rules and play by them, but if there’s a difference of opinion,?the only option?is to talk it out with your opponent and move on with the game. This is true even at World Championships!

To approach emotionally charged disagreements with calmness and empathy takes learning and practice. That has rubbed off in real life, too.??

?Just like in sports Zenoti has helped me internalize the reality that that you either win, or you learn. Everyone — colleagues, team members, family, and YOU — makes mistakes. What is important is that we show up and stand behind each other to better learn and perform. It becomes a mantra: How can I be a better manager, colleague or team member, and get behind someone to help us all get better?

TO LEAN INTO MY STRENGTHS & REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE

Having played a team sport from the age of 7, I’ve learned a lot about how experiences on the field translate to other parts of life and visa-versa.

You have to trust others while taking personal responsibility. While others rely on me to get a job done, it also requires the same effort from all members to succeed.

We all don't come with the same talents, but what you bring is valuable. I don’t write code or sell but I'm a finisher. Zenoti recognized this potential in me and in the process helped me find my unique place and strengths in every team I’ve been a part of since.?

THE JOY OF A WIN (AND THE BLOW OF A LOSS) ARE TO BE SHARED

As much team oriented a sport may be, in the end, there must be mutual responsibility. The battles you win, your team wins. If we fail as a team, it's our responsibility as a team to learn and try again.

Team sports made me more comfortable with making mistakes. Through playing, I've learned that I could make mistakes and still win, or at least still enjoy playing the game.

I’ve made mistakes on the job as well— and have always emerged a stronger professional by learning to fix my mistakes and devising how to avoid them in the future. And just like my coaches, my bosses have always had my corner.

SELF-WORTH AND A GROWTH MINDSET

Growing up I always felt I didn’t fit in.

Anxiety around grades and performance drew me to sports in the first place. Just getting out on the field always made me feel better, both physically and mentally.?There’s a lesson in just getting out on the field,?where the first step is just being there.

Once you’re there, winning against better players, you gain self-confidence and the skill of persistence. By losing, you learn to pick myself up and come back stronger.

This is a virtuous cycle.

In the start-up world (Zenoti is a growth stage start-up), they are quick and short cycles. To be successful at work and feel confident about a new role, you need to recognize that it takes the same persistence and willingness to learn and grow. Make those mistakes, learn, get better.?

Get out on that field. You will not regret it!

Thank you, Abhishek, for sharing your journey and your insights with us — and GO TEAM!!

1. ‘Frisbee,' a trademarked name, is actually the product of playing around with a baking sheet, which is why it's often shortened to simply 'Ultimate.' The baking company, 'Frisbie,' sold their rights to the design – and to think, it could have been called ‘Ultimate Pluto-Platter.’ (Look it up, it's true!)
2. ?Ultimate isn’t new. The first intercollegiate Ultimate was played in 1972 between Princeton and Rutgers Universities. The New York Times covered the event.
3. Ultimate is one of the only mixed-gender sports
4. It’s also the only self-officiated, non-refereed sport. Players are required to work out calls collaboratively and operate on an honor system.