From Ordinary to Extraordinary: How Legendary Leaders Inspire Greatness

Revisiting the times when I tracked every cricket match across the word, it is clear that for Pakistani cricket, the era of the early 1990's featuring players like Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar was exceptional. Setting aside politics and only discuss sports, their ascent to greatness was fuelled-by one legendary leader who instilled a maniacal extent of confidence in the players, elevating them to heights they once thought unattainable. How does such a transformation occur? What can corporates and us as individuals learn from such leadership?

There comes moments when we realize that the most exceptional leaders don't just guide their players - they transform their teams towards greatness - with a mix of respect and awe, creating an environment where fear of failure fuels determination and inspiration fosters greatness. And at the core of this transformation lies three powerful words: Reciprocity of Belief. This mutual faith - the belief a captain has in his team and the belief the team has in their captain - is the catalyst that turns fear into courage and doubt into confidence, transforming ordinary players into extraordinary champions. Many from my generation will have vivid memories of the legendary Pakistani team led by Imran Khan. In his book from 2021, 'Stargazing: The Players In My Life,' Ravi Shastri, one of India's greatest all-rounders, rightfully, hailed Imran Khan as one of the finest captains and players the game had ever seen.

As I recently read through some of the pages from Imran's autobiography, Imran Khan - A Personal History, he writes "My complete belief that we would win boosted the team's confidence and helped prevent it from falling apart. At times of crisis the entire team will look to the captain, but they do not so much pay attention to what he says as to whether he believes in what he is saying. They watch his body language rather than listen to his speeches. My conviction gave me the right body language. It helped too that in the previous three years we had won many times from impossible situations".

A captain must not only possess the ability to identify raw talent but also have the skill to quickly "design their confidence" to shape the players into high performers within a limited timeframe. And what Imran Khan was outlining on behalf of all great captains (and leaders) was that, it is never just words that anchor a team, but the fierce conviction reflected in the captain's every gesture. When the captain believes with all his heart that he will prevail, it prevents the "fracturing" of the team - in action and in spirit.

I therefore spoke to one of the Indian sports journalists who used to travel with the Indian and Pakistani team during the era of Imran Khan and had direct access to Imran. I learnt that Imran Khan didn’t just look for raw potential; he looked for future champions. The journalist had jotted down some remarkable quotes and went on to tell me that Imran Khan's legacy isn't just built on his own ability on the cricket field; it's more marked by his remarkable ability to spot raw talent and then make massive bets on them. He had an uncanny knack for seeing potential where others saw inexperience, and this faith transformed the landscape of Pakistani cricket by delivering it some of its best players during his era.

In 1985, a young and relatively unknown Wasim Akram had only a few first-class matches under his belt when Imran picked him for the World Championship of Cricket after watching him bowl at a trial at the Gaddafi stadium. Most would have hesitated, but not Imran. He had boldly declared, “Akram is going to be the best fast bowler in the world today,” even though Akram was still untested and just 18. Imran's foresight and mentorship would soon indeed see Akram become one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history.

Similarly, in the lead-up to the 1992 World Cup, Imran's intuition led him to back a young Inzamam-ul-Haq. After watching him bat for just a few overs in the nets, Imran had interrupted and said, “You are coming with us to play Australia.” He was just 22. In another incident, despite Inzamam’s hesitation and a request to sit out the crucial semi-final match against New Zealand due to an illness, Imran was unwavering. He had told Inzamam, “Take some tablets and get ready because you will be batting in the top order. You will win the World Cup for Pakistan!”. It turned out to be the match in which Inzamam delivered the match-winning performance, scoring 60 runs off 37 balls, taking Pakistan into the finals and ultimately helping them secure the World Cup.

Imran's eye for talent wasn't limited to the young. In 1982, he championed the selection of an about-to-retire Abdul Qadir for Pakistan’s tour of England. Despite resistance from the selectors, Imran had stood firm, promising, “Qadir will be my responsibility.” His faith paid off spectacularly, as Qadir emerged as the star bowler of the series, revitalizing the art of leg-spin bowling during a period when it was considered a dying craft. His skill and mastery of various deliveries, such as the googly, flipper, and top-spinner, brought leg-spin back into the limelight.

While, I picked the case of Imran Khan as a captain, the fact is that across all fields, be it sports or business, the principles of captainship has remained unchanged all through history. From the bronze age of the Greeks to today, the story of leadership and unyielding loyalty is a testament to the supreme power of belief, showcasing how god-like leaders learn how to pick people and then elevate them to achieve the impossible thereby making themselves into everlasting legends.

Therefore, I say that the greatest of the leaders possess an almost divine aura we look up to, their very presence exudes an unwavering confidence. These leaders, meticulously choose and groom their followers. This selection fosters an unbreakable bond of loyalty among the chosen. They fight not just for victory, but to uphold the sacred trust of their leader. Under the guidance of such leaders, the ordinary achieve feats that defy normal comprehension. Their performances are not merely victories won, but a tribute to loyalty inspired because of their leader.

I admit, greatness is an elusive definition, interpreted by each of us in our own way. Yet, we bear the responsibility of instilling in our teams, children, and friends the unwavering conviction that they can achieve greatness in whatever area they are passionate about. Imagine a father telling his son that he has the potential to be the best mathematician and one day win a Nobel Prize. Picture a mother telling her daughter that her empathy to help the less fortunate ?will one day inspire millions of other girls to follow in her footsteps, making a real difference in people's lives. Envision a manager telling a teammate that the potential he sees in him is something he has never encountered before, and therefore, the team mate is destined for greatness and will be pushed to achieve it.

How often do we do this? What stops us from planting these seeds of belief and ambition? It is within our power to kindle the sparks of potential in those around us, to transform their doubts into dreams, and to guide their steps toward extraordinary achievements. In these moments of encouragement and vision, we shape the future. So, let us embrace our roles as leaders, ?friends, and mentors, fostering greatness in others, for it is through this shared journey that we truly elevate ourselves and those around us.