Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World

by Jacqueline Brassey, Aaron de Smet, Michiel Kruyt

A trio of McKinsey & Company veterans draws from a unique combination of psychology, neuroscience, and consciousness practices plus a combined 50-plus years of international board room experience to offer a unique approach to learning and leading with awareness and intentional choice, even amidst the most challenging circumstances.

As the speed of change in our increasingly complex world accelerates daily, leaders are tasked with performing outside of their familiar zones both in their personal and professional lives. This requires us to adapt. Yet, the same conditions that make adapting so important can also trigger fear, leading us to resist change and default to reactive behavior. The authors call this the "adaptability paradox" when we most need to learn and change, we stick with what we know, often in ways that stifle learning and innovation. To avoid this trap, leaders must become proactive so they can lead ahead of the curve.

Enter Deliberate Calm, a tangible guide that combines cutting-edge neuroscience, psychology, and consciousness practices, along with the authors' decades of experience working with leaders around the globe. By practicing Dual Awareness, which integrates our internal and external experiences, leaders can become fluid and respond to challenges with intentional choice instead of being limited by their old success models. With Deliberate Calm, anyone can lead and learn with awareness and choice to realize their full potential, even in times of uncertainty, complexity, and change.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction, Self Help, Professional Development, Psychology, Audiobook

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2022

Reviews

[Brigette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new book designed for leaders, and should be used to help those think and act in the most effective way at work, basing it on current circumstances. Much of this book contains guidance on how to pause and think through what we are feeling, how those around us might be feeling, and acknowledging those feelings but not letting them be the guide.

I thought there were some great nuggets of wisdom in this book. For example, a leader who is feeing threatened can create the same feelings in everyone around them. By remaining open, the same thing can be felt by those around us. Be careful with the stories we tell ourselves. Think through intention before bringing anything to your team.

The end of each chapter and then the final portion of the book contains tips and information on how to apply deliberate calm in your life. These were easy to understand and I could see them being applied quickly. My main qualm with the book was that the lengthy examples of dialogue throughout this book became tiresome. I also wondered why women characters were the ones usually having to work on themselves.

Overall its a good book to remind us to think through our actions and words.

[Heather Axtell Slone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not a book I would have chosen for myself. But it did teach me a lot. It was pretty interesting.

[Evan Piekara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came in with high hopes for this book given the fascinating subject matter, reviews, and expertise of the authors. It just did not live up to expectations- seemed like a lot of fluff without providing a lot of background or concrete data to support their framework.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a ton in this book that is brand new to an experienced leader or regular meditator but many great reminders about how valuable it is to be intentional and the curator of your own existence. We are still in VUCA times and this book is helpful for anyone who needs to be reminded about how to ease into things and bring others along naturally.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong and thorough insight into developing leadership capabilities and practice to thrive in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment.

[Riss 🫶🏻☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an eye opening piece and I really enjoyed the concepts touched in this novel. Definitely one to try out!

[Andrew Helms · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ll save everyone the time - the premise is - don’t be emotional, use Headspace

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot by reading this, not only as a leader but also as a professional. Recognizing and reminding me of my ultimate goal would be helpful for my daily work, and I need to charge myself properly.

[Brandon Karaffa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great examples. Easy to follow. Lots of new ideas I haven't seen and new perspectives/ views. A refreshing change from the myriad of books with the same decades old theories and tactics.

[Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read based on a coworker’s recommendation. Definitely some practices I want to adopt for my work life.

[Martin Montagut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about rethinking the way to handle situations

[Danna Lungu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good advice on self-awareness in the context of challenging/unfamiliar situations, and switching to learning/adaptive mode whenever our current habits and approaches are insufficient or inadequate. It could have been summarized in an article though, and most of the case studies could have been condensed into two pages. Still worth a (quick) read, it provides many applicable tips and suggestions.

[Carla (literary.infatuation) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re facing a volatile and stressful environment at work, having difficulty making teamwork actually work, Deliberate Calm by Jacqueline Brassey, Aaron de Smet and Muchiel Kruyt might be for you. Easy to understand, practical tips in how to change perspectives and embrace new challenges. I particularly liked the last chapter that is a sort of workbook.

[Lorenzo Pezzoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful advice on how to react calmly to everyday challenges. I found the examples enjoyable. The concepts, however, are slightly repetitive.

[Jeremy Kourvelas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content just longer than necessary and rather repetitive.

[Rachel Short · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good tools for self growth. What are my reactions, why, and what to do once you are aware. Tips for personal and team use.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concepts and lessons, but I ended up not finishing the book. A bit repetitive.

[Puru Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relevant to the current environment

As a leader of a team player in any working environment, you would be able to relate to the stories mentioned. A great way to elucidate challenges by virtue of case studies. Worth a read and worth any leader to get absorbed in.

[Susan Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book! Have started Week 1 on my journey to living a Deliberate Calm life. Was able to relate to the different real-world use cases throughout the book.

This is the theme I will be sharing with my work team this next year as we continue to navigate significant change.

If you need to constantly adapt to expected or unexpected changes, this book is a great choice to look at adapting in a better way without all the stress.