It was a triumph against nature’s fury, helplessness, and the dark. On July 10th, 2018, while the Wild Boars and their coach were successfully rescued from Tham Luang caves after a 17 day haul, people across the globe rejoiced their homecoming. Their rescue was resonated with hope, light, strength, and miracle, all at once.

I was gripped to the story just like everyone else. The minute-by-minute reporting kept unveiling a new and unique facet each time. The resilience of the boys, the audacity of divers, the cooperation by the Government, the faith of families, prayers by kith and kin, and the relentless support offered by countries across the globe, were collectively responsible for creating a success story out of the adventure that went wrong. On having garnered deeper insights into the story, I realised that the rescue story is a compelling case-study from a leadership perspective. The story is a storehouse of lessons that businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive upon. On having analysed the story innately, here are some of the learnings I was able to deduce:

Collaborate to innovate

The rescue operation was a success, owing to the skilled manpower and resources made available to conduct the same. Thailand, as an economy isn’t self-sufficient. The rescue operation may not have been successful, had there been no support from the countries across the globe. Economies such as USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, India, China, Finland, and Israel contributed to the rescue operation in their own individual capacity, and the result was for us all to see! Collaboration is critical to finding solutions.

Crowdfunding is becoming increasingly important for businesses and economies alike. What may seem impossible at an individual level, is easily attainable at a collective level. Crowdsourcing isn’t just about accumulation of resources – it’s about a planned allocation and utilisation of resources that fosters innovative solutions and ensures the best of results. With technological advances, we have entered into an era of  mass collaboration, which has eclipsed our challenges and llimititions!

Apologising:

The twelve boys were accompanied by their football coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, as they bicycled their way to the caves. The coach realised the enormity of the crisis and took full responsibility of safeguarding the boys. In a hand-written letter, the coach who’s now lovingly addressed as “Ek”, apologised to the families for his negligence, while assuring them the kids will be well taken care of. What was astonishing, was the reply by the parents, which read that they didn’t blame the coach for the mishap, and he need not blame himself either.

In the event of unexpected occurrences, we invariably slip into a rampant culture of blame game. In an attempt to protect our own image from being tarnished, we lose sight of the real problem which finally remains unresolved. An inherent quality of a leader is to take ownership of any failed scenario and shift the team’s focus on the solutions that would combat the problem. It is only human to err, and with that borne in mind, we should adopt an empathetic approach towards our stakeholders – which goes a long way in dealing with critical situations and achieving desired outcomes.

Specialisation

The countries that participated in the rescue operation, sent across the best of their resources. The divers and rescuers, the military, the engineers, and the water management team were skilled and adept at the task they were chosen for. The rescue squad took hold of the situation, remained calm and composed, despite the panic stricken situation. Decisions weren’t taken haphazardly, and meticulous and timely choices were made to ensure that the rescue operation was a success.

Specialisation and division of labour are key to an organisation’s efficiency and efficacy. The strengths of every employee should be identified and channelised, in the best interests of the individual’s growth and the organisation’s surge. In addition, harmony in efforts, and the drive to strive towards a unified cause, will help overcome hindrances and pave the way to success.

Crisis Communication:

Globalisation, media, and the internet ensured that the tragedy of Wild Boars is not confined to the boundaries of Thailand. Despite the story doing rounds in every nook and corner of the world, there was no brouhaha in the country, news, or on the web regarding the inmates. Grapevine would have scaled up the severity of the crisis and dissemination of incorrect information could have offset the efforts that were put in to rescue the boys. The patience of the citizens, the composure of the authorities, and the responsible reporting by the media, made the operation easier and harmonious.

Information and knowledge are double-edged swords that should be handled with great care. It is of paramount importance to validate and authenticate  information that circulates during a crisis, prior to taking action. Poor communication  could  result in vandalism, thus careful monitoring and taking informed decisions are key to coming out of a crisis situation.

You always have a choice:

The caves were obscure and there seemed to be no way out. The boys were out of ration until the divers located them. The coach starved himself so that the boys could feed themselves with a little more. They had a choice: they could’ve either spent their days in doom and despair and given up on hopes of seeing the light of the day completely. Or  chose to  stand by each other as pillars of hope and courage. They chose the latter. The coach made the boys practise meditation so that they could survive the battle against depleting oxygen levels.

Fear comes as a natural instinct to all of us during times of uncertainty and unfavourable circumstances. But giving in to fear should not be an  option. When there are limited resources and skills at our disposal, we should remain calm and composed, and strategically utilise what is available to obtain optimum results. Sometimes, all we need is a little self-introspection,  to identify the appropriate steps to combat  an adverse situation. Some risks have to be taken with a leap of faith.

You need to  be prepared for the worst, while hustling for the best.

The “Wild Boars” story is etched in my memory, and will remain so even long after it stops attracting the limelight. A disaster that could have doomed the lives of the inmates and their families, and engulfed the entire nation with sorrow! Instead it is being revered as a legendary tale of courage, grit, humanity and faith. I shall continue to be in awe of each one who contributed to translating this treacherous mission into a compelling story with powerful lessons….for all that made this difference, was the approach that was adopted!