What ZEE5â€™s Break Point teaches us about leadership

In a world full of content releases, sometimes a story stays with you. ‘Break Point’ was one such docu-series depicting the world of sports, but from a closer lens, one could find important leadership lessons entrenched into the journey of the iconic duo Lee-Hesh, writes Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India. Let’s dive in.

Think big:

As Leander Paes says, there’s nothing wrong with believing that you are No. 1 in the world. A clear vision, followed by consistent and passionate efforts to reach the goal is what gets you across the finish line. Big thinking means being a big 'doer'. Successful leaders follow through on ideas and plans, set goals, take action, and achieve those goals. That's the power of big thinking. By measuring the pros and cons, Leander led the saga of this historic partnership, factoring in the bigger goal that he envisioned for the country.

Consistency is key:

Leander’s story re-instills faith in the theory of practice makes perfect. Right from the time his father used to tell young Paes to keep hitting the ball on a wall to him spending hours together, shadow practicing, and learning the tricks of the trade – he worked really hard to become a World Champion. As leaders, we often come across a hurdle or we are working on making something better, and the key lies in being consistent, working different angles and finally, not giving up. Success is waiting for you on the other side of the wall, all you have to do is climb it.

Balancing the yin and yang of leadership in a team:

The Lee-Hesh partnership was an iconic, never-seen-before duo who however did see many hurdles along the way but what ultimately mattered was balancing it out on the field and playing to win – as a team, together. And that’s what they did! In any partnership or teamwork, personal or professional, communication is essential. There could be opposing views or disagreements at times, but if the foundation is strong and the goal is clear, navigating through these gets easier. A team is only fueled with the right balance by fostering positivity and building a channel of open communication. Teamwork makes the dream work just like the famous Kenyan saying – Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.

Progress always involves risk:

Challenges are a part of every opportunity that comes our way,one either makes history or learns on their way. The willingness to take risks defines our success in the end. The biggest risk is not taking any risk and leadership lies intransforming a challenge into an opportunity. It will help you learn, change, and grow, just like Lee-Hesh did. They came back with a bang after having faced a split again in 2001 after a series of losses. Leander’s diagnosis of the tumor didn’t derail his spirit either – he fought back like a champion and made it for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Break the ice/ Build an imagery at workplace:

As a lead it is essential to connect with your team and build trust within your teammates. The conventional hierarchical patterns need to be put aside to establish a collaborative and corroborative structure. The journey from a leader to a mentor defines the success of a team.

ZEE5’s ‘Break Point’ embraces the tale of the record making, sport moguls – Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes. The Indian documentary series directed by Nitesh Tiwari, and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is a testimony of the success of ‘The Indian Express’ and leaves us with some thought-provoking lessons about leadership that resonates with people from every sphere of life.