8 - Decoding Executive Presence - Rajiv Vij on his book – Inside Out Leadership

Rajiv speaks about how he thought about stepping off the corporate track despite being on a very good wicket at Franklin Templeton. He speaks about the growing dissonance within and the quest for purpose and self-improvement that led him to this path.

Rajiv speaks about how he thought about money when he decided to step off the financially lucrative corporate track. He also makes the distinction between foregoing future upside versus taking a cut on the lifestyle as things stand today.

Rajiv speaks about some of the key choices he has made along the way in his journey as a Coach. He speaks about how he kept his North Star front and centre as he thought about various options and possibilities around expanding the practice. He also speaks about how he balances quality of his work with the volume he takes on.

Rajiv speaks about why he chooses to work with the leader as a whole and not limit himself to the professional elements. He speaks about how some of these elements are intertwined and why one has to approach this holistically to be of value to the leader.

Rajiv speaks about IQ, EQ and SQ and expands on the notion of SQ (Spiritual Quotient). He goes on to talk about the criticality of building self-awareness, having a sense of purpose and taking greater self-responsibility.

Rajiv speaks about why we need to be non-judgmental when it comes to reflection and journaling. He speaks about why self-acceptance is a prerequisite to self-improvement.

Rajiv speaks about how leaders can be thoughtful about what they delegate thereby creating bandwidth and mind-space for themselves to engage on the most impactful set of activities.

Rajiv breaks down the notion of Executive Presence and speaks about some of the elements that constitutes it. He speaks about importance of gravitas, credibility, quality of communication and appearance. He also expands on the notion of Authenticity and the link with credibility and presence.

Rajiv speaks about the different levels of listening. Level 1 – Focusing on the message; Level 2 – Focusing on the emotions of the communicator; Level 3 – Staying tuned to our own emotions as we receive the signals.

Rajiv speaks about what it takes to move from a paradigm of doing things to that of being somebody. He says that very often we end up making the being contingent on an outcome or a series of outcomes and says that this approach could be a mirage and a moving goal post.

Rajiv elaborates on the benefits of mindfulness. One obvious benefit is that we are able to observe ourselves better. Rajiv goes on to say that this practice also ensures that we are able to be more open to various possibilities that emerge along the way.

Rajiv speaks about some of the coachees where he has been able to make a difference and speaks about the commitment of the coachee to the process. He also speaks about the pros and cons of working with people “like you”.

Rajiv interprets the term “Play to Potential” and shares his perspectives on how we should think about the full human potential and not just limit this conversation to unlocking professional potential.