Three essential lessons that badminton taught me

Badminton is my favorite sport, and even today, I play badminton with much enthusiasm and love! It is also a family sport; my wife and I play competitively, and our kids were ranked in the top 30 in the US through the junior circuit. We love our family games together- trust me, they are more competitive than even many tournament games each of us plays 😉

For the past 15+ years, I have focused on badminton doubles and mixed doubles, so the discussion below is more from a team sport perspective. 

I wanted to bring together how the game of badminton has helped me in my work life. There are innumerable comparisons of the struggles involved, the satisfaction of winning a tough match, the dedication required to keep going, and the perseverance it always takes to put your best foot forward!

The three lessons that the sport taught me: 

• The ability to trust and to let go: In badminton, you realize that your partner will hold the ground for you when you need it the most. We know the shuttle can fly in any direction, and if it goes to the back alley, you need a trusted partner to smash it! You can let go of the need to control every aspect of a challenge when you have a trusted partner - just as you can with a strong and resilient set of colleagues/ team at work.  
• The importance of goal setting: Signing up for a badminton tournament is a rather big commitment, a milestone of sorts. To achieve the larger goal and win big, you must fulfill a series of crucial objectives - train, eat right, and consistently work on your skills. You keep at it and try to excel - not just for yourself, but to ensure that you don't let your partner or the team down. 

The sense of satisfaction of achieving a goal is unparalleled. It makes all the effort worthwhile. Before you know it, you are planning your next tournament or where you get your subsequent victory. This feeling compares to how we keep propelling ourselves to attain higher levels of professional excellence whenever we reach a career milestone. We are at our highest of highs just after completing a big project or getting a promotion, and that feeling is fantastic. 

• The importance of good communication: Success in sports relies on solid team chemistry, and the nature of team communication can make or break your winning streak. Communication in badminton typically needs to be concise and timely, especially when one needs to make decisions in seconds between points or within minutes between games. It tends to be very spontaneous, and one must identify and communicate tactical changes on the go to quickly rack up points. I've experienced in my professional career that mastering the art of communication is what molds good team players together and makes better leaders.

Lin Dan, a two-time Olympic champion, once said - "Badminton is not only about winning. What is important to me is playing hard, doing my best, and putting up a good show for the spectators." This philosophy has always resonated with me. A win is never guaranteed, and the road to success always needs adjustments, improvement, upskilling, and a continuous willingness to learn. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on which sport or non-work-related pursuit has enabled you to become a better professional!