What Stoic Wisdom teaches us about Executive Presence
Rajesh Gangwani
Executive & Leadership Communication Coach | My work lies at the intersection of leadership and communication. I enable senior and emerging leaders to leverage the power of their presence to create influence and impact.
Have you heard about ‘stoic wisdom’? The Stoic philosophy which began in ancient Greece around 300 BC teaches self -control and how not to let emotions rule our lives. One stoic wisdom attributed to Marcus Aurelius, mentions that 'strength comes from a calm mind'. This implies that with a calm mind, we have the power to shift our thoughts and choose how we respond to difficult situations.
The great stoic philosopher may not have alluded to a leadership context but the concept applies equally well to building executive presence in modern times! When we talk of gravitas as a key trait of presence, we are indeed referring to a leader’s ability to display poise and equanimity in the face of tough situations.
I recall an incident when a senior leader called me from a client’s office. She was visibly upset. In her meeting with the Brand Head, things had turned quite ugly over some missed deadlines. The client who was prone to anger, used very harsh language. She felt extremely disrespected. As her reporting manager, I asked her to close the meeting immediately and inform the client that she would escalate the issue internally. The issue was then raised to the Marketing Director and the Brand Head was made to apologize eventually for his conduct.
Be it difficult conversations, heated conflicts or strong disagreements, leaders need to master the art of retaining their composure and standing their ground. They need to keep a check on their emotions and not let the situation get the better of them. They need to know their boundaries and have the courage to put forward their views assertively. Equally, they must strive for a middle ground where mutual respect is honored.
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These scenarios present a critical test for a leader’s executive presence. Their ability to hold their emotional balance with maturity and grace separates them from others and marks them for higher roles.
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Senior Business Leader | ICF Executive & Team Coach (PCC/ACTC/EMCC-SP/ITCA) | Mentor | Advisor | CMO | High Performance Team Builder | Tech Go-To-Market Specialist | VP Asia- AI Edutech Startup | Leadership Development
6 个月Equality in yoga ( ?????? ??? ?????? samatvam yoga ucyate) means having a quiet and unmoved mind, regardless of external circumstances. It requires the self-mastery to not react impulsively to things that are said or done, allowing for a clear view of situations without distortions created by personal feelings. - From Srimad Bhagavad-Gita
Couldn't agree more to your point about the relevance and application of Stoic wisdom, given the general turbulence of Indian corporate-dom in today's times. Apart from Marcus Aurelius, the other 2 Stoic greats - Seneca and Epictetus - have also voiced similar thoughts and of course, essentially the same philosophy. And yes, i was fortunate enough to glimpse your demonstration of mutual respect and leadership/ executive presence (and a bit of your own personal brand of Stoicism) during my JWT Mumbai days - something which I fondly remembered quite a few times, especially in these last 2-3 years.
Executive & Leadership Communication Coach | My work lies at the intersection of leadership and communication. I enable senior and emerging leaders to leverage the power of their presence to create influence and impact.
6 个月“Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power.” — James Allen
Executive & Leadership Communication Coach | My work lies at the intersection of leadership and communication. I enable senior and emerging leaders to leverage the power of their presence to create influence and impact.
6 个月“ The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet” …Swami Vivekananda