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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Deliberate Calm summary
Jacqueline Brassey, Aaron De Smet, Michiel Kruyt
How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
17 mins
Brief summary
Deliberate Calm guides us in developing emotional resilience and adaptive leadership skills. It presents strategies to maintain composure, make mindful decisions, and thrive amidst uncertainty in both personal and professional environments.
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Deliberate Calm
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Key idea 1 of 5
The tale of two Jeffs
Have you ever found yourself reacting poorly to a challenging situation, only to regret it later?
Whether it's a high-stakes business meeting or a personal crisis, our habitual reactions often fail us when we need them most. This common experience is rooted in how our brains and bodies respond to stress and uncertainty. Understanding this process can help you navigate complex, high-stakes situations with greater awareness and effectiveness.
Consider the tale of two Jeffs – both sales managers facing a company crisis. Jeff 1 reacts with his usual pattern: promising to fix everything, pushing his team harder, and ultimately making things worse. Jeff 2, however, pauses, observes his own thoughts and feelings, and chooses a more thoughtful response. The result? A more collaborative team, better communication with his boss, and innovative solutions to the company's problems.
As humans we operate in two main zones: Familiar and Adaptive. In the Familiar Zone, you rely on your existing skills and knowledge to handle challenges. But in the Adaptive Zone, you need to learn new approaches. Ironically, the stress of adaptive challenges often triggers protective behaviors that inhibit the very learning and creativity required to succeed.
In fact, your behavior is much like an iceberg – only 10 percent is visible above the surface. The other 90 percent – your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and core identity – lie hidden beneath, driving your actions. Under stress, you cling to habitual patterns, even when they're not serving you well.
Your brain also constantly makes predictions based on past experiences, which can lead to stress even without objective threats. By becoming aware of your personal narratives and reframing your interpretations, you can shift from a mode of protection to one of learning.
Cultivating "deliberate calm" allows you to navigate challenges more effectively, turning potential threats into opportunities for growth and innovation. It leads to more conscious leadership, helping you respond to complex situations with intention rather than reaction, and enabling you to lead more effectively in an uncertain world.
The goal isn’t to eliminate stress or negative emotions. Instead, it’s about developing the ability to observe these reactions without being overwhelmed by them. This creates space for more intentional choices and innovative solutions – exactly what you need to thrive in today’s increasingly complex world.
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What is Deliberate Calm about?
Deliberate Calm (2022) offers a compelling exploration of leadership in an era of rapid change, introducing the concept of Dual Awareness as a tool for navigating complexity. By combining insights from neuroscience, psychology, and consciousness practices with decades of boardroom experience, it offers a fresh approach to adaptive leadership that unlocks potential and builds resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Who should read Deliberate Calm?
- Leaders seeking to build agile, adaptable businesses in uncertain markets
- Professionals aiming to develop resilience and adaptive skills
- Anyone interested in neuroscience-backed approaches to leadership growth
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