It is IPL season and stealing an early share of controversy was Kings XI Punjab captain and bowler Ravichandran Ashwin who dismissed Jos Buttler in a run out popularly called ‘Mankading’. Named after legendary Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad, ‘Mankading’ is a method of run out where a bowler dismisses a non-striker by hitting the bails before bowling when the latter is outside the crease. Immediately, social media took up the debate on whether this was in the "spirit" of the game. Much has been said and meme-ed on the subject and, no, I am not writing another piece about the moral dimension. Suffices, to note hear, though, "mankading" can only happen when the batsmen is slightly away from the crease and fully concentrating on supporting the striker with a quick run.
In 30+ years in my career, I have often seen this cricketing trick (for want of a better word) being played out in corporate life. If you are only concentrating on the task in hand, the quick wins and functional objectives, be sure there are some silent career-derailers at work. I would identify three types of bowler-colleagues to watch out for.
The Smiling Assassin :
Normally a subordinate or peer, this person is always very respectful in meetings. Will accept your suggestions and even at times applaud these. She is careful to keep on very good terms with the Top Management but slows down the execution of ideas perceived as "yours" and not "hers".
The Faulty Friend :
He is the one who will single you out as a like-minded colleague. You will be invited to his house parties, find that the families are blending well and a common outside circle of friends is evolving. This may actually begin out of a genuine shared interest like a club membership, reading habits, tastes in food or golf. It is an accepted fact that official friendships get highly challenged when both parties are talented and corporate eventuality of the pyramid would favour only one of them moving ahead.
The Silo Sultan :
This type is not uncommon. In most organisations, silo-working is identified as the main reason for loosing momentum in execution of strategy. In fairness to this person, the competitive corporate culture, sets us out to protect first the interests of our own functions. The Silo Sultan never leaves an opportunity to catch the Boss' ears on what the other function-head is doing incorrectly and / or given a chance how he would do things differently.
Like in cricket, when something like this happens in corporate life, the talk by the cooler turns to "unfairness " v/s "foolhardiness". The important point to note, here, is that as per the Laws of Cricket 41.16 if a Non-striker leaves his/her ground early, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out. Further, whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball is not to be counted as one in the over.The law also states that if the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal "dead ball" as soon as possible.
The corporate analogy is not hard to find. If the Organization culture sets a high premium on "fixing" the individual rather than correcting the process, it helps to have some ready cues to explain overall performance. Fault-finding gets unconsciously encouraged and a mankading colleague might actually be "permitted" in his act, like the bowler. The reason behind a sudden switch in roles or a transfer remains silent, like that uncounted or dead ball.
Both, the spirit and letter of this law makes the act fully legitimate. In a country where "cricket is a religion", Mankading gets established as par for the course. Better, therefore, to stay at the crease, keep a good eye out over the entire field and recognise the colleagues who could be "mankading without a qualm". After all, like cricket, "big boys" play the corporate game.
Finally, as Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted :
"Dear coaches,
train your batsmen at the non strikers end, to keep watching the bowler till he releases the ball. Mankading is a legitimate mode of dismissal. Be wary of it.
As far as ‘spirit’is concerned, that’s for after the game, that you can pour in your glass.😋"
The same applies to corporate after-parties, where you applaud each other, raise a toast to teamwork and dance a jig to those "balle-balle" numbers.
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