Aaron De Smet Books
Aaron De Smet is a senior partner at McKinsey specializing in organizational design and leadership.
Known for: Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
Books by Aaron De Smet
Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
Deliberate Calm explores how leaders can develop the ability to stay composed and effective under pressure. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and leadership research, the authors present a framework for learning agility and emotional regulation that helps individuals and organizations thrive amid uncertainty and change.
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1. The Neuroscience of Stress and the Birth of Deliberate Calm
When we face challenge or ambiguity, our brain’s limbic system—the emotional center—activates a primal response: fight, flight, or freeze. This reflex evolved to protect us from physical threats, but in today’s cognitive world, it often misfires. A tough meeting, a strategic crisis, or a market down...
From Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
2. Learning Agility and the Two Zones of Growth
Our biology and psychology both push us to stay within the familiar — to perform well in conditions we already understand. We call this the performance zone, where our skills are optimized for known challenges. Here, confidence is high and efficiency is prized. But when the environment changes, when...
From Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World
About Aaron De Smet
Aaron De Smet is a senior partner at McKinsey specializing in organizational design and leadership.
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Aaron De Smet is a senior partner at McKinsey specializing in organizational design and leadership.
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