An Individual Contributor, A Fantastic Opportunity for Talented One

Hanuman is a strong character in Ramayana. During, the search of Sita and Lanka invade by Rama`s monkey and bear army;   Angad was leading a team, Sugriva was leading an another team, Jamavant was working as an adviser. Hanuman was valiant and capable to lead a team, but no team was given to him, he was working as an individual contributor. Why not any team was given to Hanuman, the capable one? Whether Rama was not sure about his leadership skill or Rama wanted to utilize his unparalleled prowess in some critical situations, rather than spending his skill in guiding and leading other people. What could be the reasons… but Hanuman never complained to anyone about this, and remained the loyal devotee of Rama. He served Rama as an individual contributor with supreme devotion.

Needless to say that Hanuman followed all the Rama`s orders very religiously and without any question. Rama told him to locate Sita; He only located Sita in Lanka. He was strong enough to defeat Ravana and Ravana`s army alone to take Sita back to Rama. But he did not do so, because he was not told to do so. A leader need to spend some time and energy to understand his team`s strength and weakness to get the maximum work done by them. And an ideal leader should always be ready to take the blame of the mistakes done by his team. But as an individual contributor, merely you need to pay attention on your strength and weakness and self-improvement. You know your prowess; talent, skill, knack, capabilities and tenacity, and you can confidently execute and show your talent that could be more visible. Your entire focus would be on your personal performances. Hanuman got this opportunity to show his individual talent, and he did the justification with the opportunity. He became the worthy of worship, not Sugriva, Angad or Jamavant.

Sachin Tendulkar, a terrific cricketer, could not become more successful as team captain. But what a fantabulous things he did as an individual contributor. He has been given an epithet of “god of cricket”, not because of his captaincy or seniority, it is because to his individual contribution towards the nation in the field of cricket. In sooth, the individual contribution is a fantastic way to prove the real you and exhibit your real potential and talent.