Do you find calm people fascinating?

I’m not talking about people that get paralyzed by indecision or people that come across indifferent.

I’m talking about those rare individuals that can intentionally take in incredibly volatile input and still hold it together in a way that leads to clear thinking and mobilisation of people towards a solution or acceptable outcome.

This phenomenon is “Deliberate Calm.” The good news is that it is a skill, and it's the topic of conversation today.

Drawing from a unique blend of psychology, neuroscience, and consciousness practices, as well as more than fifty years of combined international boardroom experience, three experts offer a unique approach to learning and leading with awareness and intentional choice amid even the most challenging circumstances.

As change accelerates daily in our increasingly complex world, leaders tasked with performing outside their comfort zones in both their personal and professional lives must adapt. Yet the same conditions that make it so important to adapt may also trigger fear, causing resistance to change and a default to reactive behavior. The authors call this the “adaptability paradox”: at a time when we most need to learn and grow, we stick with what we know, often in ways that stifle change and innovation. To avoid this trap and be ahead of the curve, leaders must become proactive.

Enter Deliberate Calm, which combines cutting-edge neuroscience, psychology, and consciousness practices, along with the authors’ decades of experience with leaders around the globe. By practicing Dual Awareness, which integrates internal and external experiences, leaders can become resilient and respond to challenges with intentional choice instead of being limited to old models of success. 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.

Months ago, I came across the article in The Harvard Business Review written by Jacqueline Brassey of the McKinsey Health Institute and her colleague Michiel Kruyt, an independent consultant and thought leader. We are thrilled to have them on the show today.


Notable moments in this episode:

(07:03) - What is emotional adaptability
(11:04) - Deliberate Calm
(15:56) - Team management: The concept of learning versus protection
(21:03) - Meditation, Mindfulness, and Deliberate Calm


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Follow Jacqueline Brassey and Michiel Kruyt:

Books - https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/deliberate-calm

Jacqueline Brassey:
Blog - https://advancingauthenticconfidence.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquibrassey
Website (Personal) - http://www.reachingyourpotential.org/

Michiel Kruyt:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michiel-kruyt
Website - https://imagine.one/


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