09/11/2025
*What if your boss behaved like Harmanpreet Kaur?*
Sunday night, India created history — winning the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup Final.
A proud moment for every Indian. A watershed moment for women’s sports.
But amid all the fireworks, cheers, and tricolour celebrations, one quiet act stole the show.
As the team took their victory lap, Captain Harmanpreet did something extraordinary — she invited two legends, Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj, both retired stalwarts, to hold the trophy and walk with the team.
That single gesture defined leadership culture in its purest form.
Just one simple, powerful act that said everything about who she is as a leader.
Harmanpreet didn’t see them as “the past.”
She saw them as the foundation — the women who made it possible for this generation to dream.
And by inviting them, she set an example that didn’t reduce her stature — it multiplied it.
Because only a secure leader can share the spotlight.
And in doing so, she gave her team something priceless — a culture of trust, humility, and belonging.
Now, let’s flip the scoreboard and talk about our workplaces.
In many offices today, leaders act more like insecure captains.
They downplay others’ contributions, hold back recognition, or feel threatened by anyone who could shine brighter.
And then they wonder — “Why is my team not motivated?”
Simple. Culture trickles down from the top.
If the leader plays politics, the team plays safe.
If the leader steals credit, the team stops taking ownership.
If the leader can’t celebrate others, the team stops celebrating altogether.
I’ve seen it too often — high-potential teams collapsing under poor leadership.
Not because they lacked skill, but because they lacked psychological safety.
When leaders operate from fear instead of trust, even talent turns timid.
Now imagine if Harmanpreet had walked that lap with her team, trophy in hand, soaking up the glory for herself.
The message would’ve been — “This is my win.”
But by bringing Jhulan and Mithali in, she turned “my win” into “our legacy.”
That’s how culture is built.
Not through mission statements, but through moments of humility.
Corporate leaders can learn a lot from that victory lap.
True leaders don’t compete with their team — they complete them.
They don’t chase validation — they create loyalty.
They don’t fear being replaced — they build people who can replace them, and still revere them.
That’s how you build cultures that last — where success isn’t a one-time event but a living tradition.
As I watched Jhulan and Mithali lift that cup with tears in their eyes, one thought struck me —
Leadership isn’t about holding the trophy. It’s about knowing who deserves to hold it with you.
That’s how you build teams that don’t just win once —
They keep winning, long after you’re gone.
And in that one act, Harmanpreet didn’t just win a World Cup.
She won something rarer — the hearts and respect of her team and many more like me.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
