Steady (The practice of leading well under pressure)

You know what good leadership looks like. So why is it so difficult to lead that way when the pressure is on?

As the pace of work accelerates and expectations grow, the qualities of exceptional leadership are becoming more difficult to access and ever more important. Leaders are expected to make sound decisions amidst uncertainty, build trusting relationships, navigate complexity and care for the wellbeing of others – all within systems that increasingly reward urgency.

Over the past few decades, leadership development has given us models, frameworks and evidence about what good leadership looks like. Yet, when the pressure is on, even experienced leaders often react defensively, rescue rather than empower, avoid difficult conversations, overwork, people-please or lose sight of what matters most in favour of quick wins. These leaders are well-intentioned but human – and pressure activates deeply ingrained, evolutionary patterns of survival that disconnect us from our best judgement, values and relationships.

Steady argues that leadership is more than a set of skills to learn – it’s an inner practice. Drawing on executive coaching, psychology, neuroscience and mindfulness, Astrid Korin offers a practical roadmap for developing the awareness, presence and responsiveness that allow leaders to choose how they respond.

• Brings concepts to life through real leadership stories drawn from interviews with leaders.

• Brings together the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness and leadership while making complex ideas accessible.

• Inspired by the author’s successful leadership development programme, Inside Out Leadership ™ , each chapter includes reflections and practices that help translate knowledge and insight into everyday leadership.

Whether you're leading a team, an organization or simply trying to stay true to yourself in a demanding role, high performance is an inside job.