Double Dribble

Basketball has always been a stress buster for Gerd Hoefner, Director and President, Siemens Healthcare. Hoefner served as a coach- manager for his basketball team and played at the semi- professional level for 25 years as a playercoach. While he had to cut short his basketball journey due to a knee injury, he now nurtures his love for the game by playing with his daughters.

Hoefner started playing in 1972 during his schooling days at Lohr, Germany. "Our local sports club Turnund Sportverein von ( TSV), which was active in soccer and other sports, formed a basketball team. We soon began competing at different leagues in Bavaria and gained fame by winning championships," he says. Hoefner opted for business but continued to serve as coach- manager at his basketball club.

Hoefner believes everyone needs to pursue team sports in formative years as a lot of cognitive work happens in teams. It also teaches one to be a team player. "Basketball taught me the significance of getting along with everyone, because in the end, you have to be friends if you want to be a successful team," he says. "You move together and turn difficult (business) situations into opportunities," he says.

Hoefner says that sports prepares people for shorter feedback cycles and to keep improving. Like a game plan in basketball, businesses too must continuously evolve, he says. "In the end, what matters are the results," says Hoefner.