As the speed of change in our increasingly complex world accelerates daily, leaders are tasked with performing outside of their comfort 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.
Jacqueline (Jacqui) Brassey PhD, MAfN, is McKinsey’s chief scientist, director of research science people and organization performance and a global leader with the McKinsey Health Institute. She is also affiliated with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, adjunct professor at IE University in Madrid, Spain and serves on the supervisory board of Save the Children NL. Jacqui and husband Nicholas live in Luxembourg with their teenage twins.
Aaron De Smet is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. For 25 years, he has helped institutions transform to improve performance and organizational health. After getting his MBA in 1992, Aaron helped lead research to enhance the impact of behavioral health programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Social and Organizational Psychology at Columbia University before joining McKinsey in 2003. He lives with his family in Montclair, New Jersey.
Michiel Kruyt is CEO of Imagine.one with a mission to help business leaders create systemic transformation towards a more sustainable and equal planet. Before joining Imagine, Michiel was a partner at McKinsey & Company and co-founder and managing partner of change leadership Firm Aberkyn. He started his career working for Unilever in The Netherlands, Italy, and the USA. He is a Board member of the Urban Consciousness Center in Amsterdam. Michiel, his wife Christine, and their three children live just outside Amsterdam.
As the speed of change in our increasingly complex world accelerates daily, leaders are tasked with performing outside of their comfort 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.
Jacqueline (Jacqui) Brassey PhD, MAfN, is McKinsey’s chief scientist, director of research science people and organization performance and a global leader with the McKinsey Health Institute. She is also affiliated with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, adjunct professor at IE University in Madrid, Spain and serves on the supervisory board of Save the Children NL. Jacqui and husband Nicholas live in Luxembourg with their teenage twins.
Aaron De Smet is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. For 25 years, he has helped institutions transform to improve performance and organizational health. After getting his MBA in 1992, Aaron helped lead research to enhance the impact of behavioral health programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Social and Organizational Psychology at Columbia University before joining McKinsey in 2003. He lives with his family in Montclair, New Jersey.
Michiel Kruyt is CEO of Imagine.one with a mission to help business leaders create systemic transformation towards a more sustainable and equal planet. Before joining Imagine, Michiel was a partner at McKinsey & Company and co-founder and managing partner of change leadership Firm Aberkyn. He started his career working for Unilever in The Netherlands, Italy, and the USA. He is a Board member of the Urban Consciousness Center in Amsterdam. Michiel, his wife Christine, and their three children live just outside Amsterdam.
Subscribe to get Email Updates!
Thanks for subscribing.
Your response has been recorded.

"We Believe In The Power of Books" Our mission is to make books accessible to everyone, and to cultivate a culture of reading and learning. We strive to provide a wide range of books, from classic literature, sci-fi and fantasy, to graphic novels, biographies and self-help books, so that everyone can find something to read.
Whether you’re looking for your next great read, a gift for someone special, or just browsing, Midland is here to make your book-buying experience easy and enjoyable.