Vikram is a star maker. He creates a star leader in a person so that they can develop a powerful executive presence, stand out, and build market dominance. He started his journey in 2003 and since then he has spent 20 years decoding the behaviour of star leaders on how they connect, collaborate, and compete with ease. At Coach Vikram, we help leaders with clarity to solve critical problems, drive business value, and succeed in a competitive business environment. Coach Vikram has previously worked with Aditya Birla Group, Asian Paints, Avendus, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company, Bank Of America, BCG, Capgemini, Concept Medical, Continental, DBS, DE Shaw, Eaton, Fresenius-Kabi Oncology, Google, Gyanodaya- Aditya Birla Global Center for Leadership, HDFC Life, J.P.Morgan, KPMG, Mahindra, Marico Innovation Foundation, McKinsey, Lightspeed India Partners, MegaDelta Capital, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, More Retail, Nomura, PwC, Rheo TV, SBI Card, TEDx, True North, UTI AMC, VISA, Young Presidents’ Organization, ZS Associates.
Our notion of contemplation encompasses activities, for instance, deep meditation and daydreaming. Contemplation appears to us to be the antithesis of choice and action. Watching someone deeply contemplative rarely impels us to action. We can initially perceive contemplative leadership as a weakness rather than a strength. Our context for reflection is predominantly passive, whereas our context for leadership is primarily active. We find it coherent to distinguish them as independent entities in our daily lives.
So, what advantages does contemplation offer?
Not becoming bogged down in thought for a long time is contemplation. Contemplative people may deem to be completely immersed in thought, but there’s more to this than meets the eye. Practicing contemplation can help one be more in the present; it helps to look beyond their own conceptions rather than becoming side-tracked or lost in their own thoughts. Contemplation is the technique of closing the eyes and opening the mind. It is a method of putting aside our presumptions and expectations in order to concentrate on what is profoundly real.
What does it mean to lead with contemplation?
Though complex, contemplative leadership is not toilsome to practise. It is built on the knowledge that each of us possesses the potential for leadership. There are numerous people and connections present at any given time. We only have a restricted understanding of life since we only perceive it from our own perspective. How could we possibly analyse every aspect of every situation while exercising strategic thinking? We must suspend our thoughts if we want to live each moment fully. Seeing the entire perspective is a paramount component of contemplative leadership. We are aware that everyone has something to proffer. Appreciating how each of our efforts fits together is a crucial integrant of contemplative leadership. Contemplation enhances and proliferates our capability for leadership. We need to understand that we don’t need to be in control as we recognise and reap the benefits of each moment’s intricacy. We can reframe how we experience every moment owing to contemplative leadership.
The leaders who persuade others constantly have contemplative leadership traits. Their leadership is shaped and guided by reflection. The majority of reflective leaders seem to discover that they have the ability to inspire their team, to better collaborate with them, and come up with original solutions to pressing problems. Contemplative leaders might look like superhumans to others – they accomplish feats that seem inconceivable to most. They provide the spark and gasoline for their own leadership. But, as we learn more, we begin to see how their leadership is shaped by reflection, and that is how it focuses on making the differences which actually matter the most.
Summary
Leadership is about the people you lead, not about you. It’s about assisting people you lead in realising their potential. Contemplative leadership is about having a better understanding of one’s own thoughts and feelings, which results in gaining more self-assurance and clarity in decision-making. Contemplative leaders not only think creatively when it comes to work but also show high emotional intelligence to make their professional relationships work really well.