Notes: Think and Win Like Dhoni - Sfurti Sahare

Sharing some of the key bullet points notes after I read this super helpful book - "Think and Win Like Dhoni" by Sfurti Sahare on the occasion of Mahi turning 40 today.

1) Being in the Moment :

See every day as a match; a new match. Dhoni wins long series and in a row by seeing every match as important as any. "Being in the Moment" gets Mahi full focus, energy, mind and concentration to the match for that particular day.

Don't get lost in the past exp; Don't overthink for the future, be in the present and GIVE IT ALL for that.

2) Conditioning your Mind Well :

Dhoni practices self-awareness. Important decision making requires a calm mind. Aggression wastes time and unconditions the mind. Dhoni says, "Sometimes my mind wanders off to places where it is not supposed to, but as soon as I notice it. I bring it back to the ball."

Living in the moment removes all the baggage and makes you calm. "For me, every ball is a new opportunity". Mahi is aware of the fact that one won't find solutions to every problem at a fast pace. One needs to let it settle down. Sometimes, switching off from the problem removes the negative thoughts and the biases affecting the decision making.

3) Planning, Attitude and Execution :

Dhoni is a keen believer of process. According to him - Process wins the game. Planning, intuition, forecasting can't be avoided; these need to be done prior so that we are already winning before entering it.

The good homework of planning lets Mahi draft the attitude to be courageous. Dhoni aims to take up new challenges, way bigger than they seem to be accomplished but with the right attitude, he loves to battle it all.

Well aware of the Big and Chaotic goals, Mahi advises not to over-complicate things and keep them simple. He places himself outside the problem, gains a 3rd eye view, breaks the challenge into small parts and communicates the one-liner execution to the team. Visualise goals, and keep things simple for the team and for the execution. A great leader anticipates; Dhoni extraordinarily reads the game and makes it better by simply "Simplifying" it.

4) On Leadership :

--> Mahi practices to be as honest as possible with the team and dwells a high amount of trust.

--> Aims not to alter or fiddle; keeps himself composed.

--> Spreads clarity: goals, objectives and hows.

--> Stands by the Teammates: He makes sure once the team members have been screened and part of the team for the common objective of winning and playing the best; he backs the decisions and the failure of his teammates.

--> Leads from the front. Mahi has often been spotted on the wicket mics stating clear instructions to his bowlers and fielders leading to the immediate direct impact of the opponent's wicket. Dravid said, "Dhoni has never demanded anything from his teammates, which he himself has never done. Dhoni is the one leader who leads by example, not by rhetoric."

--> Follows core values and builds excellent rapport with the teammates. Sachin states, "Give Dhoni the opportunity. He has an excellent rapport with his teammates. He will know how to handle the team."

--> When one looks at Dhoni and the way he conducts himself on the field and off the field, his offbeat style of captaincy, his wins and losses, one gets a sense of completeness or wholesomeness about his persona. This is one of the vital aspects of a good leader - a leader exudes a sense of wholesomeness which helps him gain extreme trust with from his teammates irrespective of the laurels he is responsible for.

5) Best Finisher :

Most people start something, but somewhere in between, they lose steam. People have the tendency to lose focus and consistency in the middle of the job. Mahi doesn't lose the nerve and doesn't let the guards down until the job is done!

Good Finisher: Everything in life has a beginning and an end. It is important for an individual to recognise the endpoint from the start and finish it successfully. Training on the input metrics to accomplish the real outcome metrics.