Last week, I’ve posted my first LinkedIn blog where I wrote about the human resources (HR) insights I learned from my mum. Did I choose the wrong “muse”? Did I learn the wrong way? I know that I may have deviated from normal expectations but my answer to these questions is “No. I don’t believe so.” I had a bachelor’s degree and I finished my MBA a year after. I have finished a number of courses thereafter. In fact, I have just enrolled in another course recently as part of my continuous professional development (CPD). However, we all learn each day, whether we are aware or not. Such learning does not need to be through formal, classroom-based or moderated distance or online methods. Experts and professionals in the learning and development field will agree.
Today’s topic for me should be about “passion,” one of the 5Ps of my life’s purview. Basketball is my core theme today. It may initially seem to be another “off-topic” topic again. However, for those among you, my dear fellow professionals, who have read my previous blogs, you would have already understood my blog-writing journey and my reasons for choosing what I call as “no box” blog writing. Technical writing had always been a must in the core functions of my previous roles that I’ve gotten used to and depended on it just like air is to breathing. This article, therefore, is another part of the journey in going out of that comfort zone. I know that HR is still not a dependent variable and may still be putting me “inside the box” in this current equation but I am trying to lessen the number of independent variables I am using one blog at a time.
Now, what have I learned about basketball? What does it have to do with HR? I could come up with lots of things however I’d just focus on three lessons.
Lesson # 1: On diversity
In my blog yesterday, I wrote about basketball as something popular in the Philippines, where I, my husband and our two sons came from before we migrated to Australia and called Adelaide our new home in 2010. If soccer, swimming and footy are the main Aussie sports, basketball is the Filipino’s favourite (despite the height limitations) followed only by boxing (and Manny Pacquiao’s fame) and soccer.
When we were just new to Adelaide, my family used to play our own version of soccer at the vast and green South Terrace open spaces. The kids further developed physically through their swimming lessons at State Swim. They are now into karate lessons, which honed their self-confidence, aversion for violence, respect for others, as well as discipline. I am an Adelaide Crows fan (way better than I would expect someone like myself whose early learning years didn’t involve the sport) and I also cheer for the Port Power team if they are playing against any team except the Crows. My family cheered for the Socceroos and their win last year. Our year 2015 highlight was watching the Adelaide Strikers win against Sydney at the Adelaide Oval. However, basketball is still a passion that my husband couldn’t live without and what he has always been ingraining in our two kids as well. It is, thus, a welcomed surprise that basketball ranks 6th amongst Aussie favourite games. This year, we even went to our first ever real basketball game at the recently improved Titanium Security Arena, with the 36ers versus Sydney, and Adelaide won!
Australia is a multi-cultural country that shuns away from discrimination. Even in sports, this really shows.
“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.”
The lesson: Diversity is indeed something that HR would be at the forefront for, as what it should be based on rules, regulations, legislation, and ethical considerations. Walking the talk is always the next challenge to be hurdled. For example, at times, it is easier for a recruiter to look for a candidate who mirrors oneself, who has the same principles that one has, or who acts the same way as what the best practice guides tell everyone to. Also, where “cultural fit” is always a box to tick, further consideration should be directed towards “cultural contribution” among other benefits. Seeing beyond ourselves takes a bit more.
Lesson # 2: On also recruiting for attitude and passion
Way back in my days as a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), I had the privilege of joining the female basketball corps squad. I have never dreamed of joining the squad. I still believe I did the game enough justice as my skills definitely pale compared to my foster sister Mayee and much more so to the standards of Samboy Lim and my other basketball idols. Yes, I knew the moves and rules but doing them, myself, is another thing.
Why did I join the squad then? First, we had no other choice. At my time, females were only less than 5% of the whole cadet corps population. Manpower was scarce. I had to pitch in. Second, Mayee was in charge of the corps squad and I was thinking I would want to help and learn from the experience as well. Last but not the least, of all the sports (aside from running), basketball was the best thing for me. I loved basketball more than any other sports then.
Did I make it through? Yes. I may not have become a star player just like Mayee. I may even be the worst performing player on the team. However, I think I’ve outdone myself by putting my heart and soul into what I was doing as part of the team.
In the short if not almost nil spans of time that we had been practising for our games, I tried to learn what I could and work on every other thing I learned along the way. Yes, I did make blunders along the way and found myself tired and beat at times, yet I didn’t give up. I did my share as part of the team.
I could remember once when one of the more overpowering players of our opponent team suddenly bumped into me and she suddenly fell backwards. It had been a David against Goliath scene, only that I did not even pick up a slingshot as I merely stood my ground.
And, you know what? I didn’t become a backbencher. I even scored at least a couple of points. I know that such isn’t much but I’ve outdone myself.
Being a great basketball player may not be my dream. However, my passion is doing what I can in every given situation. I did that then.
On a similar note, my husband is an example of greater passion for the basketball game. Most of his waking hours will be spent either watching reruns of basketball games, reading basketball news, and so on. He lives and breathes basketball. What has he accomplished out of that extreme passion for the game? He coached an Adelaide-based Filipino basketball team twice; his team won both games he coached. He also coaching our youngest son’s school basketball team; from a non-performing team with no wins at all, they’ve recently been winning through his painstaking effort, time and dedication. He turned our youngest son into a basketball fanatic through his unending basketball moves and tips as well as regular practices. He has mentored our oldest son to become a basketball referee; our son is becoming more confident each day. He has turned me into a number 1 fan; he has prodded me to more frequently see the kids’ games. His passion along with his own sterling basketball skills for the game itself made him accomplish a lot of things.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
The lesson: Recruit also for passion and attitude. Skills could be taught later if still need be.
Lesson # 3: On collaboration
Now that we have time for each other, each of us in my family of four now has more time and opportunities to do things together. In basketball, we have huddled together but each one of us has our own role to play in this much-loved game. My husband is the coach and mentor. Our oldest son is the referee. Our youngest one is the star player. I am the number one fan and supporter.
Without a coach and mentor, skills would have not been taught, and the right attitudes may not be developed. Without a referee, there’d be no someone to identify problem areas, provide direction, and set the right pace. Without the basketball player, the game will not be so. Without a fan like me, there’ll be no one to cheer everyone up when things become challenging, to prod everyone to move on, to be there as a morale booster and proof of support. Every member of the team needs to support and work with each other, but we must also trust each one to do one’s thing. It may be more obvious that my three boys, though, have more connection with and passion for basketball than I do. However, I believe that each member of a team has a very important role to play. The passion for doing what we should as part of the team matters.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
The lesson: HR does not only work for the organisation. Of course, we need to be there, just like everyone else, to create value. One of HR’s main role is still to become a business partner. However, HR also needs to also be an employee champion to balance things out. “Happy employees. Happy customers. Happy stakeholders.” Teamwork works.
Wrapping it all up
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
Once more, I’d like to emphasise that I do not have the monopoly of knowledge. Nobody does. I learned from my failures and moved on. I learned about basketball. I believe in individual uniqueness and strengths and the passion for what drives us to do more. I also believe in the passion for working together to make things work better and best.
It would be great to learn from you. We could always learn a thing or two or even more, unconsciously and much more so with more mindfulness.
What are your thoughts and comments on this? Is there a sport that you are passionate about? How has your passion affected your personal life?
(Note: This article also appears in the author’s LinkedIn profile.)
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