“You can train muscles, master strategy, and polish skills, but without composure, performance crumbles when it matters most”
Story 1 : Indian Mythological
Even the greatest warrior needed more than skill to win. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna, despite being the most skilled archer, found himself paralysed on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Turning Point: Lord Krishna’s counsel in the Bhagavad Gita was not a lesson in archery, it was a lesson in composure. Krishna taught Arjuna to detach from fear, ego, and doubt, and to act with clarity of purpose.
Impact: Arjuna’s regained composure enabled him to lead his side to victory, fulfilling his dharma.
Lesson: True performance flows from inner stability, not just outer skill.
Story 2 : Modern Practical Real Story
The difference between winning and burning out in the corporate world isn’t always competence, it’s composure.
In 2008, during the global financial crisis, a mid-sized bank’s senior leader, Srisha. Her was tasked with leading a high-risk merger.
Turning Point: With markets collapsing daily, the leadership team spiralled into panic. While others reacted with knee-jerk decisions, Srisha enforced a pause. She set up daily calm briefings, restricted rumour-fuelled decision-making, and maintained her own unshakable presence.
Impact: The bank not only completed the merger but emerged stronger, securing market share while competitors faltered. Her composure became the anchor for hundreds of employees.
Lesson: People don’t follow panic, they follow calm.
“Composure is the calm you bring when the world loses its own.”— Adapted from James Allen
Practical Tips, Insights, and Advice
- Train for pressure, not just performance => simulate high-stakes scenarios in training.
- Adopt a ‘pause principle’ => 3 deep breaths before every major decision.
- Anchor in routines => predictable morning rituals or reflection practices enhance emotional steadiness.
- Separate facts from feelings => clarify data before reacting to the emotion it triggers.
- Model calm as a leader => your emotional state is contagious.
My Learnings
From leadership coaching and corporate transformations, I’ve seen that technical mastery wins games, but composure wins championships, in business, sports, or life. A leader’s real performance is revealed when they remain clear-headed in chaos.
“This week, challenge yourself: in one moment of stress, choose composure before action. Notice the difference it makes.”
