It began quite casually. One lazy morning, in the office building where my coworking space is located, I noticed that they had installed a brand-new Table Tennis table in the lobby. A few people were already knocking the ball around, but I didn’t know any of them, so just watched them play for a bit.

The last time I had played TT was in my college days. Back then, it was one of the rare avenues of entertainment (and letting off steam) in the Hostel. Those were the days when a “quick game” could stretch well into the night, interrupted by loud debates over edge balls and the occasional heroic dive that no one really needed to attempt. Like many small pleasures of student life, TT also made a quiet disappearance after college ended – career pursuits, commutes and calendars had quickly replaced them all. Back to Present Day: What started as a random afternoon diversion, has slowly become an almost daily ritual squeezed into my workday.

And, so it was that, three decades later, I found myself trying to return a serve that felt quicker than I remembered…

Somewhere between the hours of 11 am and 5 pm, a few of us find ourselves trying to snatch a game or two (ok sometimes, a dozen!). Though most of us were strangers when we began, we are now a regular bunch – our freshly-minted WhatsApp group being proof of the bond we share. What makes it even more interesting is that we all work in different companies inside the same commercial building. In that sense, this solitary TT table has inadvertently helped foster a small cross-company community within the premises.

Frankly, at this stage in Life, that part has been quite a pleasant surprise. As a consultant and solopreneur, my days are no longer surrounded by colleagues in the way they once were. Clients come and go, projects change, and the camaraderie of a traditional office setting is now but a distant memory. So, discovering a small group to share a spontaneous mid-day game with has been unexpectedly refreshing!

The other thing the sport has revealed to me is People: There are players who only care about winning – every point is serious business for them, and even a lucky net bounce is much celebrated. Then there are those who simply cannot stand losing – one bad rally and you can see their irritation building up. Some treat the game like a learning lab, experimenting constantly even at the cost of precious points. But, week on week you can see their game evolve – that’s been me so far! Over time the rallies have become longer and my game has improved quite significantly.

There are also the pros who prefer to play only with others at their own (high) level. When a weaker player joins the table, you can see the enthusiasm dipping noticeably. I prefer to stay away from such games as it does not bring me any joy.

What I have found surprising, though, is how different the game feels when you do the opposite.

When a newer or weaker player joins my side in a doubles’ game, I try to encourage their game and offer some pointers that can help them improve. Within minutes, their confidence rises, the rallies grow longer, the table stops feeling intimidating and the game improves for both of us!

Such experiences speak to instincts that show up far beyond sport. Typically, people choose one of two approaches: Protect their advantage, or Expand beyond their comfort zone. Protecting the advantage feels instinctive and efficient, especially if you are already good at something. But, for me, the more interesting environment is the one where stronger players quietly pull others upward, creating the space for someone else – and themselves – to grow.

Over these past months, my TT sessions have reminded me of many important lessons I had forgotten… Improvement is rarely linear, ego is a fragile thing, and encouragement travels much faster than criticism.

A good rally, after all, is not just about reflexes or spins, but about a rhythm and cadence between the players to keep the game alive a little longer. It is one that goes back and forth twelve or fifteen times before finally ending with both players grinning across the table, acknowledging that that was a “Good Game!”