3 Leadership Tips From Shane Watson

At the recent BW Dialogue, ace Australian cricketer Shane Watson spoke about his learning’s from cricket which could be applied in the corporate world in a candid conversation with Dr Anurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld.

Speaking the importance of comebacks despite challenging times, Watson said, “The best thing in me has been the burning desire to be as best as I can be. When I kept having regular injuries, I realized that one has to go through challenges and I believe that everything happens for a reason and one has to always look for the positive in it.”

When asked about the three biggest learning’s of his cricketing career, Watson said, “I used to be transfixed about the outcome and it affected my performance. Finally, I realized that one has to give in one’s best but the results cannot be controlled. Secondly, it is important to use the downtimes since one tends to learn more in failure than in success. And finally, it is important to trust your gut instinct and it is a powerful thing to tap into.”

There have been few international cricketers who had a brush with Bollywood and Australian fast bowler Bret Lee was one amongst them. So does Watson see himself being part of any Bollywood project? “You have to have full focus if you want to be the best. I cannot do anything by half measures; whatever I do, I do to the best of my ability,” said Watson while referring that he had no such plans.

Watson also spoke about the importance of nurturing sporting talent which leads to the making of world-class sporting icons and described India as a great sporting talent hub. He also spoke about how his cricketing academy was enabling the grooming of sporting talent.