At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the leadership world. As part of this endeavour, we invited Seasoned Entrepreneur – Dr Rajesh Mohan Rai, for an exclusive interview with us. He is a Thought Leader, Award-Winning Entrepreneur and Coach, Mentor, Business Consultant, HR Strategist & Business Coach. He has over 20 years of experience in the corporate world with expertise in the Human Resources domain. He is now leveraging his skills and experience to transform the lives of his clients. Let’s learn more about his exciting journey as a leader, his background and his advice for our growing community:
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with him:
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey as a business coach, please;
I have a very humble background. Father was working with DRDO and mother has been a homemaker. I am the fifth child among the six siblings. I have completed my Graduation from Delhi University and Masters in Management Studies from KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and research, Mumbai University in the year 1991.
I had to move to Delhi after my Master’s degree to take care of my parents. Started my career with Indfos, in New Delhi. After working with Industry for close to 20 years with organizations like HCL Ltd., ITC Hotels Ltd., Xansa Ltd., Microsoft India, I shifted to a Consulting organisation as Head of Operations in North. I grew up to the director level and was on the board of the organization. In the Year 2016, I decided to create my own Organization under the banner of RMR. The purpose was to support the small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with a focus on Human Resources.”
As I firmly believe that it’s the people who would make or break the organization and the SMEs are currently creating employment, I wanted to help the client organizations to hire and retain the best talent for them and help them grow. However, I kept facilitating the workshops and Coaching for big corporates as well. I firmly believe that the more employment I help generate, less social disruption would happen. This is my contribution to Nation Building.
How do you find the industry/niche that you’re in?
I chose to partner with Small and Medium Enterprises (though I still work with Big Companies too), that these organizations have the potential to grow big and generate employment. Business Owners want to grow and expand. However, companies lack the Brand pull. Even in the case of these companies willing to offer competitive salaries, the Talent is hesitant to join these organizations on account of the Brand Awareness either missing or very low. However, I am aware that the number of jobs these companies create is very huge.
The model I adopted was not to just give GYAN to the Business Owners/ Entrepreneurs but also hold their hands to ensure the vision these business leaders have Co-created along with the Team is fulfilled and not remains a sheer dream for them and for their teams.”
What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation?
The belief, the hope and the trust in myself that I would bring a positive impact on someone’s life today makes me leave my bed very early in the morning. These could be Business Owners/Entrepreneurs/their teams, my team members, students or any stranger.
What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far?
The first year was challenging and exciting at the same time. I started looking for the SMEs who were progressively looking and wanted to strengthen the Human Resources processes and policies. The Challenge was to make the SMEs owners explain and understand how could the HR function add value to the organization and be the catalyst for the change within the organization. Exciting, because I was able to convince and add value to the clients and started getting a reference from the existing clients.
Now after four years, the journey has been very fulfilling, enriching and satisfying. I have added value to the organizations and have impacted the employee engagement and morale positively and have ensured that they are equally contributing. Now I have a team also to help me expand the reach. Currently, I am supporting businesses outside the Delhi/NCR region as well.”
Please share with our audience about your USP?
The First Principle – Prescription Before Diagnosis is Malpractice
The Second Principle – The investment is not for Coaching but for RESULTS
The biggest USP is that the solutions provided by the brand RMR is highly customized and I travel with the business owners in their journey of growth and hold their hands during the journey. Our intervention begins with an Organization Diagnostics that helps us to customize the proposed solutions. I take the respective businesses like my own. I stand by the Owners in their Ups and Downs and become part of their extended families. The association is very deep strategic and not transactional in approach. I also coach the Business owners using various tools, it helps the business owner to grow personally as well. This is what distinguishes Brand RMR and others in the same field. I ensure that the Human Resources Function is not a cost centre however a profit centre. I ensure that we move away from a reactive approach to a proactive approach in dealing with people-related issues. I also provide the option to the business owners to opt for Build Operate Manage (BOM) or Build Operate Transfer (BOT).
Before partnering with any business/ Business Owner/ Entrepreneur, I ask the following questions:
1 – Are you seeking a partnership that will challenge you to think deeply?
2 – Do you want to work with someone who uses intuitive tools and innovative, creative coaching practices?
3 – Does the idea of maximizing your personal and professional potential excite you?
4 – Are you willing to take responsibility for your part of the coaching process?
5 – Do you understand that change and growth is a daily practice and a journey?
6 – Are you ready to step into being the BEST version of yourself?
If I get a Yes for all these questions, that’s when the association discussions begin.
What comes first for you – Money or Emotions?
No doubt – Its Emotions. It has been proven beyond doubt that today EQ is more important than the IQ. In big companies where I am associated as Executive Coach at the CXO level most of the clients are struggling to improve their EQ. I am also confident if Emotions of the team is properly managed, the team would ensure that Clients are properly serviced and the money would follow.
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
I don’t allow the stress/pressure to manage me. I manage both of these. I have an internal system deep in the place where my mind system does the analysis and instructs me that it is at all not important to lose my cool and patience under this situation and this happens every time. I also meditate. I use my very strong sense of humour to come out a winner from any situation, personal or professional.
What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
I am a constant learner. I keep investing in me. My desire to add value to every client has helped me upgrade myself continuously. My ability and My willingness to give more than promised to the business owner/ entrepreneur and also supported me to grow as a person and as a Business Coach. This attribute of mine is always appreciated by my clients and has helped me in getting references from their friends/ social/ professional network.
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem. Please share with our audience more about your awards and recognition that you have earned as a business coach?
Thanks! I have been awarded the following:
1 – Jointly hold Guinness World Record (GWR) for making 1356 number of people Walk on Fire on a 100 sq. feet bed
2 – Have been awarded as one of the “100 Most Influential Global HR Leaders” by World HRD Congress, Mumbai, 2018
3 – Have been awarded “Training Leader of the Year” by World Training and Development Congress, Mumbai, 2018
4 – Awarded as “Best Performance Coach” by World Coaching Congress, Mumbai,2018
5 – Awarded Golden Globe Tigers Award for “Outstanding Contribution to HR” (HR leadership Excellence Award) at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2018
6 – Have been awarded “HR Consultant of the Year” award by Asia’s HR Vendors Award, Singapore, 2018
7 – Have been awarded as “HR Professional of the Year” by Asia’s HR Tech Leadership Awards, Singapore, 2018
8 – Awarded the “Best Business Coach” by Star of the Industry Awards, New Delhi, 2018
9 – Awarded the “Training leader of the Year” by Star of the Industry Awards, New Delhi 2018
10 – “Most Talented Training & Development Leaders of North India”, New Delhi 2018
11 – Golden Globe Tigers Awards for being the “Best Entrepreneur Coach” at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2019
12 – “Best Business Coach” at India Business Conclave, Lucknow, 2019
13 – Has been admitted as a “Fellow Member” of Institute of Directors (IOD), New Delhi
14 – On Advisory Board of India 5000 (a research group, initiated and organized by Benchmark Trust)
15 – Have been awarded Honorary Doctorate (PhD) by Global Triumph Virtual University, 2019
16 – Awarded “Best Entrepreneur Coach” at Indian Legend Awards, 2019
17 – “Best Entrepreneur Coach of the Year” at Leadership Summit organized by Global Triumph Foundation, New Delhi 2019
18 – Awarded “Iconic Leader” in the Business Coach Category at the Game Changers Business Awards, 8th Edition, New Delhi, January 2020
19 – Have been awarded “Business Coaching Leadership Award” at the 2nd Asian- African Leadership Forum, at New Delhi, January 2020
20 – Awarded “Best in Class – Executive Coach” at TLSA 2.0, Mumbai, February 2020.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Focus, Discipline, Direction, Action. Anyone who ensures the rigour and vigour on these aspects will be successful.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Please explore the Talents. Never Give up. Ensure that the products/services being offered are providing ease and solving some of customers’ burning needs.
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