Great leaders don’t pretend to be calm. They learn how to become calm beneath the surface.
In this solo episode, Jay challenges a leadership lesson he learned early in his career: “Be like a duck.” While a duck appears calm above the water while paddling furiously underneath, Jay explains why this approach can lead to inauthenticity, overwhelm, and a disconnect between what leaders show and what they actually feel.
Instead, Jay encourages leaders to “be the water” and shares seven ways to build genuine calm and composure from within. From pausing and slowing down to breathing, practicing mindfulness, staying curious, walking away, and collaborating with others, this episode offers a practical framework for responding to pressure without pretending it isn’t there.
Notable Quotes
“You want to establish that sense of calm and composure at a deeper level mentally and emotionally so that you can respond to it rather than react.” — Jay Abbasi
“To be like the water, you have to learn how to slow down to then speed up.” — Jay Abbasi
“To me, leadership is really about curiosity.” — Jay Abbasi
“As leaders, we can sometimes feel very lonely. You feel very siloed.” — Jay Abbasi
Resources and Links
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Join Us Next Time
On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Terrance, a senior vice president at a national logistics company who feels like his work has become transactional and has lost his passion for what he does. Jay is joined by Jeff Pelaccio, longtime executive leader, speaker, and host of The Corporate Couch, to explore how leaders can reconnect with what matters, build resilience through uncertainty, and find the courage to reinvent themselves without losing everything they’ve built.
