Seven things to learn from Rahul Dravid

Keep the team above self

The hallmark of RD's career has been the way he had kept his team above self. He kept wickets in ODIs for more than two years when his captain wanted to play an extra batsman. Though he was not fully comfortable behind wickets, he gave his best donning the big gloves, claiming 84 dismissals in 73 matches.

Also whenever an adjustment was needed in the batting combination, he was the go-to man to bat in a different position, sacrificing his usual No. 3. Opening the innings in the Oval Test against England in 2011, RD carried his bat through India's first innings scoring an unbeaten 146 when rest of his teammates struggled in the swinging conditions. Within minutes after his marathon first innings, he came out to open the second innings as well, when the follow-on was imposed on India.

Learning Takeaway - In any profession, there will be certain times, when one is asked to come out of his/her comfort zone for a bigger cause. The cause may benefit the team or organization one is working with.

The flexibility shown by RD in performing additional roles for his team, is a great inspiration in handling "out of comfort zone" situations. Instead of feeling burdened, one should treat such situations as opportunities in achieving excellence.