Deliberate Calm by Jacqueline Brassey & Aaron De Smet & Michiel Kruyt Summary
Overview of Deliberate Calm
In "Deliberate Calm," McKinsey veterans reveal the science-backed secret to leadership during chaos. Endorsed by Unilever's former CEO Paul Polman as a "must-read," this guide teaches "Dual Awareness" - a skill that helps leaders perform three times better in volatile environments.
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Key takeaways
When Crisis Strikes: Finding Your Center in Chaos
Imagine being at 2,800 feet over New York City when both engines fail. This was Captain "Sully" Sullenberger's reality in 2009. Rather than panicking, he demonstrated what psychologists call "Deliberate Calm" - maintaining perfect balance between emotional awareness and rational thinking amid chaos. His unprecedented Hudson River landing saved all 155 lives aboard. This remarkable capability - staying centered when everything falls apart - isn't just for pilots. It's a superpower we can all develop, and one increasingly essential in our unpredictable world. We operate in two primary zones: the Familiar Zone, where we understand the rules and have established responses, and the Adaptive Zone, where we face unfamiliar territory requiring new approaches. The challenge? When stakes are high in the Adaptive Zone - precisely when we most need to transform - our biological response drives us back to old patterns. This creates what psychologists call the "adaptability paradox." Consider Raymond, an energy company CEO whose transformation initiative stalls when his executive team secretly undermines him. Despite mounting evidence, Raymond avoids confrontation, his stress affecting sleep, drinking habits, and family relationships. Why? Because while strategy feels safe, interpersonal conflict threatens his core identity.
The Stories We Tell and What Drives Our Behavior
Finding Your North Star: Purpose as Foundation
Recovery as a Strategic Advantage
Developing Dual Awareness
Creating Psychological Safety in Teams
Choosing Growth Over Safety in an Uncertain World
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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