In a world filled with uncertainty—economic turbulence, shifting markets, and fears that seem to multiply overnight—calm isn’t just a luxury for leaders. It’s a necessity. But let’s be honest: fake calm won’t cut it. You can plaster on a composed smile and pretend everything’s under control, but your team will see right through the façade. What they need isn’t a leader pretending to be calm—they need one who is calm. They need a leader grounded in something deeper: intention, resilience, and coherence.
Real calm is the secret weapon that allows leaders to think clearly when others can’t, to make decisions rooted in purpose, and to inspire confidence even in the face of chaos. And here’s the good news: calm isn’t just an innate trait reserved for a lucky few. It’s a skill you can develop. With the right tools—peer support, mentors, the wisdom of great thinkers, and heart-focused techniques—you can train yourself to lead with calm and pass that energy on to your team. Let’s explore why real calm matters, how coherence works, and the practical steps you can take to stay grounded, no matter how crazy things get.
In this week's Paper Napkin Wisdom Weekly:
- Paper Napkin Wisdom Preview
- The Calm Amid the Chaos: How Great Leaders Navigate Turbulent Times
- Why Real Calm—Not Just the Appearance of It—Matters for Leaders
- Week in Review
- What's on Your Dashboard?
Paper Napkin Wisdom Podcast Preview
This is the only place where we give you a sneak peek into what's coming up on Paper Napkin Wisdom. Remember to share this with anyone who needs to hear these messages.
Episode 214: Christopher Robbins, serial entrepreneur and founder of SoulDegree, is a passionate advocate for personal transformation, blending his experience as an entrepreneur and adventurer to help others reconnect with their purpose. Through his retreats and coaching, he inspires leaders to embrace vulnerability and create meaningful change in their lives.
Episode 215: Lori Haller, founder of DesignResponse, an award-winning creative strategist and direct response design expert, has spent decades crafting campaigns that drive results for global brands and entrepreneurs alike. Her expertise in blending artistry with strategy makes her insights invaluable for anyone looking to elevate their business and messaging.
Episode 216: Max Zaharenkov, a dynamic entrepreneur and digital powerhouse with an audience of over 3.9 million followers on Instagram. Max has built an impressive reputation by transforming bold ideas into thriving ventures. Max dives into his journey, sharing insights on resilience, leadership, and what it takes to build a digital empire.
Episode 217: Robin Phillips, the inspiring founder of Child Care Aware® of Missouri. With a passion for empowering families and strengthening communities, Robin has been a driving force to create meaningful, systemic change. Robin shares her journey as a leader in advocacy and education, offering insights on resilience, innovation, and building a brighter future for children.
Episode 218: Eldon Sprickerhoff, founder and Chief Innovation Officer at eSentire, reveals how staying calm in a crisis not only protects your business but drives breakthrough innovation. Eldon shares powerful insights on resilience and leadership.
Epsiode 219: Michael Schoenberger, as an experienced executive, high-growth entrepreneur, and strategist, he shares the secrets to driving sustainable success by staying calm and intentional under pressure. Michael shares how great leadership can thrive even in chaos!
Stay connected with Paper Napkin Wisdom on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify to be the first to hear these incredible episodes!
The Calm Amid the Chaos: How Great Leaders Navigate Turbulent Times
In times of uncertainty—when economic threats loom, fears run wild, and the ground beneath us feels anything but solid—leaders carry a heavy weight. They’re not just navigating their own worries; they’re guiding teams, customers, and entire organizations through storms that can feel relentless. But the difference between a leader who breaks under pressure and one who thrives is not the absence of fear—it’s how they respond to it. Staying calm in chaos is not only possible, it’s a skill that leaders can develop and pass down to those around them.
Here’s the truth: when leaders stay calm, they create calm. Teams reflect their leader’s emotional state like a mirror. A frazzled leader creates tension and panic, while a grounded, intentional leader inspires confidence, stability, and hope.
But how do we, as leaders, achieve this calm? How do we breathe steadily when the air feels thick with uncertainty? It begins with peer support, guidance from mentors, wisdom from the greats, and most importantly—starting each day with a powerful intention. Let’s break this down.
You Can’t Lead Alone: The Power of Peer Support
Leadership can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. In moments of chaos, peer groups can be a sanctuary where leaders find perspective, support, and guidance. Whether you’re part of a mastermind, an entrepreneur’s group, or an informal circle of trusted peers, these groups offer something critical—collective wisdom.
When you surround yourself with other leaders who have faced similar challenges, it’s easier to remember that you’re not the only one navigating uncertainty. Someone in the group has probably been through something similar. They’ve made mistakes you can avoid and found solutions you can adapt. Peer support isn’t just about empathy; it’s about tangible advice and insights that help you stay calm and make better decisions.
“In my toughest moments, I’ve leaned on my peers not just to get advice but to see beyond my own emotional fog. Their perspective brought clarity and helped me regain my footing.”
Coaches and Mentors Are Your Calm Compass
There’s a reason even the most successful leaders continue to work with coaches and mentors—they know the value of having someone who can guide them when their inner compass is spinning. Coaches help you zoom out and see the bigger picture. They remind you that crises, no matter how intense, are temporary and that every challenge contains an opportunity for growth.
Mentors, on the other hand, bring experience. They’ve walked the path, stumbled, and risen. When you’re tempted to let fear dictate your decisions, they can remind you of what really matters. They help you anchor yourself to your purpose and vision, instead of getting swept away by the noise.
“A coach once asked me, ‘Who do you want to be in the middle of this chaos? What kind of leader will your team remember?’ That question reshaped how I approached every decision during a difficult season.”
Biographies and Great Works: Learning from Those Who’ve Gone Before Us
Reading the biographies of great leaders—those who’ve faced wars, depressions, and personal crises—reminds us that struggle is nothing new. Leaders throughout history have faced incredible challenges and come out the other side, not because they had all the answers, but because they embraced resilience.
Take Winston Churchill during WWII or Nelson Mandela during his decades of imprisonment. Their ability to stay calm under pressure wasn’t innate; it was learned through experience, reflection, and discipline. Reading about their journeys can fuel your own strength. And beyond biographies, books that provide timeless wisdom—Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations or Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning—offer practical tools for reframing challenges and maintaining inner calm.
If you want shorter versions of some of the greatest leadership books of all time you may want to try this.
“When I read about how others endured more difficult times, I realize that the chaos I face today is simply part of the journey. If they could lead through adversity, so can I.”
Start Each Day with Intention
This is the most important tool in a leader’s toolbox. Costs nothing and you can start now. When you wake up, you’re setting the tone for your entire day. If you grab your phone and dive into emails or news about economic threats, you’re feeding yourself stress before you even have a chance to think. Instead, I believe leaders should start their mornings with intentional practices that cultivate calm and clarity.
- Read Great Thoughts: Spend 10-15 minutes reading something inspiring—whether it’s a quote, a book, or even a short article. Fill your mind with ideas that elevate you. If you want short summaries of great books - try this.
- Write Great Thoughts: Journaling is an incredible tool for unpacking your fears, organizing your thoughts, and reminding yourself of your purpose. Write down what’s on your mind and what you’re grateful for.
- Think Great Thoughts: Once you’ve read and written, take a few minutes to reflect. Visualize the leader you want to be today. Think about how you want to show up for your team.
- Set an intention: What kind of energy do I want to bring today? How can I lead with calm, compassion, and clarity? This intention becomes your anchor throughout the day. Vision using this energy/intetion during the day. When things get chaotic, return to it.
“When I set an intention in the morning, I’m not reacting to the chaos—I’m responding with purpose. That small shift changes everything.”
The Ripple Effect of Calm Leadership
When leaders stay calm, they give their teams permission to do the same. They create an environment where creativity and problem-solving thrive, even when things feel uncertain. Peer support, mentors, and the wisdom of the greats all play a role, but the most important habit is starting each day with intention.
So, tomorrow morning, before you dive into the chaos, pause. Read great thoughts. Write great thoughts. Think great thoughts. Set your intention to be the leader your team needs, and then go out and live it.
Because calm is contagious. And when you lead with calm, you lead with power.
Why Real Calm—Not Just the Appearance of It—Matters for Leaders
It’s easy to fake calm. You’ve probably done it before—plastering on a composed expression while your mind is racing, your heart is pounding, and anxiety feels like it’s bubbling just under the surface. But here’s the thing: your team can tell the difference between a leader who’s genuinely calm and one who’s just putting on a show. Real calm—what I call “heart-level calm”—isn’t just about keeping a poker face. It’s about creating emotional coherence, and when leaders achieve this, they influence those around them in powerful ways.
The Power of Coherence: More Than Just a Buzzword Coherence, a concept studied by HeartMath, is the idea of achieving harmony between your heart, mind, and emotions. It’s when your heart rate, brainwaves, and emotional state are all aligned in a steady, rhythmic, and healthy pattern. Think of it as the difference between a chaotic, erratic rhythm and a smooth, steady beat. When you’re in coherence, your body and mind are working in sync, allowing you to make clearer decisions, think more creatively, and manage stress more effectively.
HeartMath research has shown that coherence isn’t just about what’s happening inside you—it’s about what you project to those around you. The heart generates an electromagnetic field that can be detected by others, and when you’re in a coherent state, it creates a ripple effect, helping others around you feel more grounded and safe. This isn’t just theoretical. Studies have shown that leaders in coherent states can positively influence their teams’ emotions, decision-making, and performance.
Why Real Calm Is Essential for Leadership
When a leader is genuinely calm, they send an unspoken signal to their team: We’ve got this. We can navigate this storm together. But when a leader is just pretending to be calm, that energy is often misinterpreted as either denial or suppression of the problem, which can increase tension.
Imagine being on a plane experiencing turbulence. Who would you feel safer with—a pilot who’s genuinely in control and calm, or one who’s visibly nervous but trying to hide it? The same principle applies in leadership. Your team doesn’t just hear your words—they feel your energy. Coherence allows you to bring an authentic sense of steadiness that reassures and inspires those around you.
Staying in Coherence: Tips for Managing HRV (Heart Rate Variability)
A key measure of coherence is heart rate variability (HRV), which refers to the small fluctuations in the time between each heartbeat. A high and balanced HRV is a sign that your body is adaptable and resilient to stress, while a low HRV indicates that you’re in a state of chronic stress or fatigue. The good news? HRV is trainable, and by improving it, you can enhance your ability to stay in coherence even when chaos hits.
Here are a few proven tips to help you stay calm, coherent, and in control:
1. Practice Heart-Focused Breathing
Heart-focused breathing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to restore coherence. The technique involves slowing down your breath and directing your focus to your heart. Here’s how to do it:
- Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and place your hand on your heart.
- Breathe in for a count of 5, and out for a count of 5.
- As you breathe, imagine the air moving in and out of your heart, creating a soothing, rhythmic flow.
Doing this for just a few minutes can help regulate your nervous system and shift you back into coherence. This is a powerful technique you can use before meetings, tough conversations, or any high-stress situation.
2. Cultivate Positive Emotions
One of the fastest ways to achieve coherence is to intentionally generate positive emotions like gratitude, appreciation, or compassion. Positive emotions naturally bring your heart rhythms into balance. The next time you feel overwhelmed, pause and reflect on something you’re grateful for. This could be a personal achievement, a loved one, or even a small win from that day. Studies show that this simple practice can have an immediate effect on HRV and coherence.
“When you cultivate gratitude, you’re not just thinking about something positive—you’re training your heart to respond with calm and balance.”
3. Take Regular “Coherence Breaks”
You don’t have to wait until you’re in crisis mode to practice coherence. In fact, the most effective leaders make it part of their daily routine. Set aside a few minutes every few hours to do a quick coherence check-in. These short breaks help prevent stress from building up and keep you grounded throughout the day.
4. Prioritize Sleep and Recovery
A good night’s sleep is one of the most underrated ways to improve HRV and stay in coherence. When you’re well-rested, your body can handle stress more effectively, and your heart rhythms naturally stabilize. Prioritizing recovery, whether through sleep, meditation, or light exercise, is an investment in your ability to lead with calm and clarity.
The Ripple Effect of Coherent Leadership
When you’re in coherence, you’re not just leading from your head—you’re leading from your heart. Your calm becomes contagious. Your team feels more secure, confident, and empowered to perform at their best. As a leader, achieving coherence isn’t just about personal well-being—it’s about creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
So, the next time chaos knocks on your door, remember that you don’t have to just “fake it until you make it.” Instead, breathe, reset, and intentionally lead from a place of real calm. Coherence is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened, and once you master it, your leadership will become a force of stability and inspiration for those around you.
What’s one small step you can take today to improve your coherence? Write it on a paper napkin, take a photo, and share it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Let’s inspire each other to lead with calm and confidence.
Week in review
This week on the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast, we explored two transformative episodes that tackled impactful themes of leadership, resilience, and harnessing potential.
In Episode 212, Boaz Ashkenazy, founder of Simply Augmented, dives into the transformative power of asking the right questions in leadership and innovation. Boaz reveals how great leaders don’t just provide answers—they guide their teams toward discovery, clarity, and creative problem-solving through thoughtful inquiry. He shares practical strategies on crafting questions that spark breakthroughs and drive growth, emphasizing that curiosity is a leader’s most valuable tool. If you’re looking to elevate your leadership, this episode is a must-listen for unlocking the potential hidden within your team! Listen now on Apple.
In Episode 213, Michelle Songy, founder of Press Hook, shares powerful insights on scaling businesses with intention and purpose. Michelle discusses the importance of aligning growth with core values, ensuring that rapid expansion doesn’t come at the cost of authenticity or culture. She highlights the role of resilience, adaptability, and strategic decision-making in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. For entrepreneurs and leaders seeking sustainable growth, this episode offers actionable advice to scale with clarity and purpose. Listen now on Apple.
Check them out here:
