Leadership lessons from RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan

Who cares if he’s the top-paid man at RBI or not! Before him economists were boring and nerdy. After he arrived, young women, with no interest in business or money, across the country have suddenly taken religiously to reading business newspapers, and googling financial terms like ‘fiscal deficit’ and ‘GDP’. Just kidding.

He’s a lethal combination of wisdom, wit and whacking looks. His ‘no-nonsense’ demeanor around the office has made him a darling of the press, and his straight talk made him a favorite of the jargon-hating Indian crowd. Roll out the carpet for the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Mr. Raghuram Rajan *slow clap*.

What many fail to see beyond the hype is the calm and restrained man determined to do what it takes, no matter what. He’s looked upon as the guy who shook up the central bank and brought down inflation. He’s also widely touted as one of the few economists to have forecast the global financial crisis of 2008.

His impressive professional resume aside, Rajan is one of the country’s poster boys because he has skills we all expect in our leaders. He’s an expert in his field, has the ability to communicate, and has a reputation that’s built on the basis of hard work and professional integrity.

Here are some leadership lessons from this rockstar economist who brought the mojo back to India’s spluttering economy.

Image credit: Indiatimes