From Nutcase to Saviour : Lessons for a Business Coach

[" In Dutch offices many employees have a screensaver on their computer screens of the Christ the Redeemer statue with Van Gaal's head on it" ]

The World Cup 2014 semi final encounter between Netherlands and Argentina is  a day away, and this is an appropriate time to reflect on  Netherlands coach Van Gaal's tryst with fame. I am aware not to confuse fame with success (googled to get Erma Bombecks quotation -success is Mother Theresa fame  is  Madonna), - my interest is to  fathom how Van Gall took all those early criticisms and got to where he is today. Three years ago Van Gaal was a "nutcase" to most of the Dutch. Truth to tell, he does look odd, short and stocky in ill fitting suits ,far from the accepted image of a coach.

...and now this nutcase is a genius and a saviour. In a few hours the adjectives may become more positive or decline steeply depending on the outcome of the match. 

I wish I could get to speak to this person and  learn  how he  responded to the early barbs ( if at all he did respond) , how did he build acceptability  with the team in the context of such a poor reputation and how did he  persist  with a new pattern of play that is now credited for the success in the tournament.

At another level, how relevant is the Coach in the success of a team? Could not a stroke of luck  explain a freak performance? Just last night the mighty Brazilians were humbled to a 7-1 drubbing by the  Germans.How much of the credit should go to the Coach Lowe, and how much of the blame should Brazils' coach Scolari take? Could it not have been just "one of those days" that happens to anyone , anytime? 

The Coach and Mentor of the business world lives in relative obscurity , far from the public eye, with no deadlines to meet .  Therein lies the problem. As long as the business coach does not have to respond, nor have any acceptability issues ( the grey hairs and the past designations suffice) and does not persist with his ideas to impact the business, he is just a retiree on a pension.

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Dr Aadiya Rajagopalan: 7 years

I must admit to a bias or two 

First as a grandfather it is well nigh impossible to find fault with the personage..For the Doctor ( and not your Doctor who looks after humans but a PhD in zoology Tatha!) I am her Captain of the ship that is carrying precious animals from Chennai to Colombo. Captain Sharma to you dear reader, dressed in starched white clothes with the epaulettes ( if only you have the eyes of a 7 year old to see me ) and the swing is my ship. It is all set to sail  waiting for Dr Idhant, 3 years  ( once again not the Doctor who looks after humans , but an animal Doctor) to finish drinking his morning tumbler of chocolate. Much as the learned Doctor is as keen as the zoologist not to waste time , the drink goes down rather slowly , amidst pleadings and threats of being left behind.

Finally we are aboard and both the Doctors have checked the holds. They give the all clear signal and the swing ( what else?) swings away! Below us are the shark and alligator infested waters ( and I suppose you see only a tiled floor... what a pity!).  Whilst Dr Adiya warns us of an impending Tsunami and , therefore, the need to reach shore quickly , the learned vet has just discovered that he has left the injections behind. He is, however, confident that his tablets would suffice to cure sicknesses.

Suddenly Dr Idhant screams out a warning , there...... below in the waters is a crocodile ( which to you maybe the wooden toy seen in numerous bazaars... but then you are an ADULT dear reader with all your preconceptions and so called KNOWLEDGE.. and I cannot help you ), and Captain needs to steer clear. Dr Idhant is ashamed to see  fear written all over my face . "Never mind" he barks, I will catch it" . In  a trice he is into the sea , catching the creature and flinging it away ( Did I hear a sound of cracking wood..? )

Dr Aadiya is proud of the brave vet, for she has a protecting elder sisterly love for him."Good job" she commends and turning to the worthless Captain says sweetly "See Tatha you must not be scared." I hang my head in shame and continue to steer the ship . The tsunami can be seen in the distance and Dr Aadiya looks at her animals and realises many are sick. "Doctor Doctor..  help" she pleads. The learned vet looks closely at the creatures ( they are NOT fur toys reader!, where did you lose your senses? ) and deftly pops tablets down their throats. With Dr Idhant you are in safe hands. 

The ship reaches Colombo, but the journey MUST end... Stern voices are heard in the background as the boiled egg and the chocos cannot be left on the table anymore. The two Doctors silently get into the imaginary world of breakfast, and human beings like Tatha and Pati and  Masi ...

Cest La vie!..  

Oh yes my second bias , I do not recollect the time when I was seven to debate with you on what is real or what is imaginary. I only know that my journey , the rescue from the large crocodile, the words of assurance and the miracle cures were more real than any of my fake encounters of the living kind.

03JUL14