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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

When agreement kills growth

In the early stages of building a business, growth is often driven by clarity, speed, and conviction. Founders make decisions quickly, rely on their instincts, and push forward with a strong sense of belief in their methods. This decisiveness is not only necessary, it is often the very reason the business begins to grow. However, as businesses cross certain thresholds, particularly beyond the Rs 5 crore mark, the nature of growth begins to change. What once created momentum can quietly begin...

When agreement kills growth

In the early stages of building a business, growth is often driven by clarity, speed, and conviction. Founders make decisions quickly, rely on their instincts, and push forward with a strong sense of belief in their methods. This decisiveness is not only necessary, it is often the very reason the business begins to grow. However, as businesses cross certain thresholds, particularly beyond the Rs 5 crore mark, the nature of growth begins to change. What once created momentum can quietly begin to create limitations. In many professional environments, it is not uncommon to encounter business owners who are deeply convinced of their approach. Their methods have delivered results, their experience reinforces their judgment, and their confidence becomes a defining trait. Yet, in this very confidence lies a subtle risk that is often overlooked. When conviction turns into certainty without space for dialogue, conversations begin to narrow. Suggestions are heard, but not always considered. Perspectives are offered, but not always encouraged. Decisions are made, but not always explained. From the outside, this may still appear as strong leadership. Internally, however, a different dynamic begins to take shape. People start to agree more than they contribute. This is where many businesses unknowingly enter a critical phase. When teams, partners, or stakeholders begin to hold back their perspective, the quality of thinking around the business reduces. What appears as alignment is often silent disengagement. What looks like efficiency is sometimes the absence of challenge. Over time, this directly affects the decisions being made. At a Rs 5 crore level, this may not be immediately visible. Operations continue, revenue flows, and the business appears stable. But as the organisation attempts to grow further, this lack of diverse thinking begins to surface as a constraint. Growth slows, not because of lack of effort, but because of limited perspective. On the other side of this equation are individuals who consistently find themselves accommodating such dynamics. They recognise when their voice is not being fully heard, yet choose not to assert it. The intention is often to preserve relationships, avoid friction, or maintain a sense of professional ease. Initially, this approach appears collaborative. Over time, however, it begins to shape perception. When individuals do not express their perspective, they are gradually seen as agreeable rather than essential. Their presence is valued, but their input is not actively sought. In many cases, they become part of the process, but not part of the decision. This is where personal branding begins to influence business outcomes in ways that are not immediately obvious. A personal brand is not built only through visibility or achievement. It is built through how consistently one demonstrates clarity, confidence, and openness in moments that require it. It is shaped by whether people feel encouraged to think around you, or restricted in your presence. At higher levels of business, this distinction becomes critical. If people agree with you more than they challenge you, it may not be a sign of strong leadership. It may be an indication that your environment is no longer enabling better thinking. Similarly, if you find yourself constantly adjusting to others without expressing your own perspective, your contribution may be diminishing in ways that affect both your influence and your growth. Both situations carry a cost. They affect decision quality, limit innovation, and over time, restrict the scalability of the business itself. What makes this particularly challenging is that these patterns develop gradually, often going unnoticed until the impact becomes difficult to ignore. The most effective leaders recognise this early. They create space for dialogue without losing direction. They express conviction without dismissing perspective. They build environments where contribution is expected, not avoided. In doing so, they strengthen not only their business, but also their personal brand. For entrepreneurs operating at a stage where growth is no longer just about execution but about expanding thinking, this becomes an important point of reflection. If there is even a possibility that your current interactions are limiting the quality of thinking around you, it is worth addressing before it begins to affect outcomes. I work with a select group of founders and professionals to help them refine how they are perceived, communicate with greater impact, and build personal brands that support sustained growth. You may explore this further here: https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani In the long run, it is not only the decisions you make, but the thinking you allow around those decisions, that determines how far your business can truly grow. (The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Ashwin: A spinner who spun narratives as well as balls

Ravichandran Ashwin, the eternal tinkerer of Indian cricket, has finally decided to hang up his IPL boots after the 2025 season. What a shocker—said no one who’s been watching his recent performances. At 39, Ashwin announced his retirement via social media, probably because he couldn’t bear another auction where teams pretend to bid on him like he’s a vintage wine that’s turned to vinegar. After 17 years of spinning webs (and occasionally getting tangled in them), he’s bowing out with 221 matches under his belt, 187 wickets at an average of 30.23, and an economy rate of 7.20 that screams “reliable, but not exactly Lasith Malinga territory.” But hey, let’s not dwell on the numbers; let’s celebrate the man who turned the IPL into his personal laboratory for experiments that sometimes worked, sometimes exploded spectacularly.


Let’s start with the highs, because every opinion piece needs a sugar rush before the diabetic coma sets in. Ashwin’s best IPL moments? Oh, where to begin with this wizard of off-spin. Remember his 4/34 against whoever-it-was—probably some hapless batsmen who thought they could dance down the track without consequences. That spell is etched in IPL lore as one of his top bowling efforts, where he turned the ball like it owed him money. And batting? The man once smashed a 50 for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Capitals in 2022, proving he’s not just a bowler who occasionally holds a bat—he’s a bowler who occasionally pretends to be a batsman. His all-round prowess helped Chennai Super Kings win titles twice, back when MS Dhoni was still whispering sweet nothings to spinners. Ashwin was a pioneer, a trendsetter, innovating with carrom balls and arm balls that left batsmen looking like they’d seen a ghost. In his prime, he was the guy you wanted in death overs, not because he’d take five wickets, but because he’d make the opposition rethink their life choices. Kudos, Ash; you made spin sexy in a league obsessed with sixes. Or at least, tolerable.


But ah, the controversies—the spice that made Ashwin the IPL’s resident drama king. Who could forget the 2019 Mankading of Jos Buttler? There he was, mid-delivery stride, spotting Buttler wandering out of his crease like a tourist lost in Jaipur traffic, and bam! Run-out without bowling the ball. Spirit of cricket? Pfft, Ashwin called it “instinct,” while the world erupted in faux outrage. Critics screamed “unsportsmanlike,” but let’s be real: if Buttler can’t stay in his crease, maybe he should try gardening instead. Then there’s the 2022 “retired out” fiasco against Lucknow Super Giants, where Ashwin tactically benched himself mid-innings, becoming the first IPL player to do so. Innovative? Sure. But it felt like quitting a bad date halfway through—classy, or just cowardly? Oh, and his YouTube channel antics! Posting videos dissecting CSK’s strategies, criticizing teammates like Noor Ahmad, and stirring pots like a celebrity chef. Last season, he even dragged Dewald Brevis into a price-tag row, questioning Mumbai Indians’ splurge on the kid while ignoring his own waning form. The man collected controversies like kids collect Pokémon cards: obsessively and with zero regrets.


Now, for the failures, because balance is key, and sarcasm demands we roast the lows. Ashwin’s IPL journey wasn’t all carrom-ball glory; there were seasons where he bowled like he’d forgotten his glasses at home. Take 2025, his much-hyped return to CSK for a cool ₹9.75 crore. What did we get? Five wickets in six matches, an average that could double as a highway speed limit, and Dhoni himself admitting the team’s bowling woes. Ashwin looked lost, handing out runs like free samples at a mall. Critics piled on, calling his performances “safe” but ineffective, as CSK tumbled down the table. Remember those Powerplay battles he lamented back in 2019 with Kings XI Punjab? Yeah, his team lost most games there, thanks in part to overseas pacers flopping and Ashwin’s inability to stem the flow. Injuries didn’t help, nor did his occasional brain fades, like failing to adapt outside subcontinental pitches in international cricket, which bled into IPL inconsistencies. And let’s chuckle at his fan-trolling episode in 2025, where he begged CSK supporters to “learn from loyal RCB fans” amid the team’s slump. Bold move, Ash—alienating your own base while underperforming. In Rajasthan Royals’ 2025 underperformance saga, he was part of the tactical misfires that saw them flounder, proving even legends can turn into liabilities when age catches up.


In the end, Ashwin’s IPL retirement feels like the merciful end to a long-running sitcom.


(The Writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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