Intuits Raji Arasu Shares Her Best Career Lesson - The Muse

Intuits Raji Arasu Shares Her Best Career Lesson - The MuseIntuits Raji Arasu Shares Her Best Career Lesson When I was in high school, my mom started banning phones from the dinner table. To this day, whenever I pull out my cell to check my inbox when were eating, my mom shakes her head and tells me to put it away.And as much as I resent it in the moment (But this, I swear, is really important), Im usually grateful that she called me out. As a working adult whos being pulled in multiple directions at any given time, I rarely get to enjoy my time with friends and family. Im sure you can relate. My mom, in fact, lives thousands of miles away, so when she forces me to pay attention to her its because we only have so much time together. And I listen to her, because I know Ill regret not making the most of this time.(If this isnt the case for you and yur parents, feel free to substitute mom with someone you enjoy being around.)Its so silly, but being present during our time with loved one s is one of the best gifts of self-care we can grant ourselves- and one that we tend to neglect the most often. But dont take it from me, Im just your average working gal. Take it from someone whos higher up- who has 10 times more responsibilities than I, and yet follows the same philosophy.I spoke with Raji Arasu. In addition to being Intuits SVP of CTO Dev, shes also an advisory board member for Code.org and the CTO Forum and serves on the board of directors at NIC Inc.One of the most important lessons I learned in my career was to drop the guilt and be present in the moment, whether its at work or at home. For that reason, I prioritize quality time with my family and colleagues. Being present in those delightful moments is what keeps me from reaching for my phone, and helps me to remain truly present. As a leader at Intuit, I try to set the example of making eye contact, actively listening, and participating in every interaction. I try to carry that appreciation for moments of tr ue connection, whether at work or at home.What I love most about Arasus advice is that she doesnt just apply it to your time away from work. Practicing being present outside the office ultimately makes you better at it when youre in the office. And this makes you a better employee (actively listening helps you better understand direction and take note of important social cues), and a more enjoyable co-worker to be around (actively paying attention makes people respect you and trust you to care for and support them).And, like I said above, its good for you. It encourages you to truly unwind, take in and appreciate your breaks, and connect with people you love, all of which are crucial for anyones happiness. Its almost as if its a form of mindfulness- crazy how that worksSo, what does being present look like? It starts with putting your phone away when youre out with people (Fun fact Doing so can start a chain reaction). And not looking at your computer when a colleagues talking to yo u (a.k.a., not bringing one to meetings). And its about setting an intention to give someone your full attention. Our minds are full of distractions- to-dos, worries, conversations were overthinking. Make the effort, for just a few minutes, to push those thoughts away (or, write them down for later) and really focus on whats happening in front of you.You wont regret it. And if a SVP of a major company can do it, it doesnt hurt for you to try, too.