Badminton Chronicles - from the Court to the Class

Journey of a 1000 miles

When we moved to the UK in the Spring of 22, I remember my badminton racket was a cabin baggage, carried safely from Mumbai to Kochi to Delhi as we prepared to set off across the oceans. And as is normal, there had to be some excitement while shifting countries right! At the check-in counter, the lady said that I cannot carry it as hand baggage and it needs to be checked-in! A last-minute mad scramble to get it into one of the large suitcases ensuring that it does not get damaged in transit…

…and that is how I continued my badminton in the UK!

In Mumbai, I used to play badminton in the nearby club every day for an hour. In Brighton, I started playing once every week at the university sports centre for 2 hours (and sometimes 3). Then Dave, the lead of the playing group, referred me to play in the league tournaments that happens in the UK (the tournament for amateurs between clubs in different counties). Badminton England

In the first couple of matches, I was able to play well but really struggled. We won all the matches, but sometimes I was the weakest player. My serves were easily being smashed back.

A Serendipitous Conversation

Nicky Holness, who runs the club (Brighton Bats), one day came across, “Krishnan, I think you are playing defensive and your serve is being targeted easily!”. Sometimes all it takes is just a conversation and something pops! This is what I sensed was missing in my game and I found someone mirroring it for me.

As they say the rest is history! The forehand serve which I have been doing all my life and specially in the last 5 years of playing, had to be changed to a backhand drop serve. And many of you will vouch how difficult it is to change your strokes (whether in cricket or badminton or other racket sports.). But it happened so seamlessly and without any stress, that too in just a month. It led to some amazing results in the subsequent games.

So, what happened? I inadvertently stepped into the Coaching Triangle (not the Bermuda Triangle ??).

The Coaching Triangle

1.?Conversations with a patient person (with unconditional positive regard) …

We tend to believe that as we become an expert we don’t need that mentor or coach. Actually all of us need someone who watches and observes you, while giving you the feedback on what can be done better. Non-judgemental but shedding light on what you can discover for yourself to make a difference.

Enjoy this thought-provoking talk by Atul Gawande sharing his experience of coaching in the medical field: https://www.ted.com/talks/atul_gawande_want_to_get_great_at_something_get_a_coach/

2. … on day-to-day micro-habits…

What Nicky shared with me were not big and drastic shifts. She said that I have got almost everything right. “Why don’t you focus on leaping off your feet while returning a serve?”. After sometime she gave another suggestion “Why don’t you tilt the racket a bit while serving?”; and then “Just position yourself on this line while your partner is smashing.” And lo behold! my posture and approach became more offensive and effective.?

It is always only the small things that are required to give you the immense power to transform. She was able to offer these suggestions, and I took up the ones that seemed to make an impact on my game. (A little different approach from a typical corporate coaching engagement.)

3 … with an open and accepting mind.

I stopped thinking to myself “ I am not an aggressive person, hence am not a aggressive player, therefore I play defensive.” If you see the chain of thought (and many such limiting beliefs), somewhere I had given myself a life sentence - ‘I am like this..’.

Critical moments in our lives can have the power to define who we are, in that moment, and for the rest of our lives. Those pivotal moments create in us a sense that something is wrong with me, … The impact of these decisions can create for us a life sentence of being bound by that critical moment to a life of limits and inauthenticity.

-Three Laws of Performance-

Where and when I chose that life sentence for myself, I may never know, but the moment I decided to choose differently, I was in the moment and the freedom was immense.

It became about the non-judgmental performance of strokes, serves and volleys, again and again and again…and the transformation was bound to happen!

And for me the journey of learning 'playfully' continues!

Why don’t you enter the Coaching Triangle with us? Tutul Consulting

#organisationaldevelopment ? #leadershipdevelopment #letsgrowtogether #leadership ?#coaching