In the year 1998, I was chosen at state level five days camp - as one of the five team members to represent the M. S. University of Baroda where I was in the second year of my graduation. There were 200 students came from different universities and colleges from the state. The venue was School building opposite ISRO, on Satelite Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat. The theme of the camp was peace and every day there was a predefined schedule being followed. One of the events of schedule was early morning prayer and as part of this, many professors, teachers, and school students were visiting the camp area, in addition to camp people. One of the reasons for this high visit was because after prayer there would be a 45 minutes lecture from prominent personality on a particular subject.

On day one, what I was observing that when people (either from campus or outsiders) joined for prayer, they leave their footwear outside and go to prayer area but it was not systematic. They were leaving in a haphazard way. Something like this -

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There were others also who observed this. We discussed and decided to fix this as it was giving a very bad impression. We appointed one student from us to look after the order and would instruct others when they come for prayer. Next day as planned, he reached outside prayer room, he saw that few footwears were already placed un-ordered. He started putting footwear in order and politely instructed those who were arriving to place after that. But he had a very hard day to manage it and also had to re-order the shoes laying randomly. He shared this experience with us. We again discussed the potential solution, but couldn’t come with a solution where we can inspire the visitors to put footwear in order. One of the students (now friends) suggested to visit the place and see whose footwears were not kept in place, We liked the idea to investigate. What we found that they were from a couple of professors who were attending the prayer meeting.

We strike the solution - It was clear to us what we should do. Next morning, we reached the venue much early and kept our footwears in order before anyone comes. So when those two professors came, when they saw that we have put our footwears in order, they looked at us and put their footwear in that order. After that whoever coming, they were putting the footwear looking that the ordered set. Next day, we went there exactly the same time when these two professors were coming, and about to place their footwear. Due to habit, they started putting footwear un-ordered but at the same time, we reached to place and put our shoes in order (we had planned this earlier). Looking at us, they also put their footwear in order. After that, we didn’t have to instruct them indirectly the next day. And because they were putting it in order, others who knew them (mostly their colleagues and students) also started putting the footwear in order, which sparked other people also to follow the order.

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This looks like monkey and cap (story) kind of experience if you have heard that story before. But this experience helped me to understand an important lesson of life - team follows the leader. It is a leader, who needs to be careful, the team picks what leader acts and not what he preaches. In a family, kids follow what elders do and not what they say. For me, It took a while to fully understand the lesson in a different context later in my professional career.

Today, I am at a stage where I am about to start walking on a new path and it keeps reminding me that its a team where we will achieve the goal. Perhaps because of - “individual genious, we may win the battle, but the team is required to win the war”.

Also, in the team, not all individuals will be the same (and neither we see). Team should be a mix of fresh blood and experience. Pick the leader who is highly motivated and show the path and inspires others to walk on that path.