4. Play As a Team, Play to Win

Playing to win does not mean playing dirty or cutting corners to get to the goal. Instead, it has to do with bringing out the best in us; it involves the desire to stretch and achieve something that seems beyond our grasp. For this, we must learn the importance of playing as a team.

“The challenges ahead are so complex that no individual will be able to face them alone,” says Premji, a winner in his own right. While most of our education is focused on individual strength, teaming with members is equally important. “You cannot fire a missile from a canoe,” he reasons, adding, “Unless you build a strong network of people with complimentary skills, you will be restricted by your own limitations and winning will remain a distant dream.”

The aspect of playing in a team has also undergone a sea change in the last decade or so. Globalization has brought in people of different origins, upbringings, and cultures together. Today, playing as a team needs to include the ability to become an integral part of a cross-cultural team.