About the Book

A quick, practical read.

Not theory. Not therapy. Just what actually works when you’re under pressure and don’t have time to think.

The world rewards urgency. But the leaders people actually trust, follow, and remember are the ones who stay calm when everything around them isn’t.

This book is for you if you’re:

• A leader who’s quietly struggling but would never admit it out loud
• Newly promoted and feeling out of your depth
• An HR or L&D professional looking for a hands-on workshop resource
• Someone who’s googled “why do I feel so overwhelmed at work”

You don’t need to already know what emotional intelligence is to benefit from this book. If EQ has always felt like a vague buzzword, this book makes it concrete. You have practical, usable skills you can apply the next time you’re under pressure, no psychology background required.

Drawing on real coaching experience with leaders under pressure, Sally Leslie breaks down exactly what emotional intelligence looks like when the stakes are high and there’s no time to think.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• The four core EQ skills every leader needs under pressure
• Why the “amygdala hijack” derails even the sharpest decision-makers and how to prevent it
• A practical toolkit to recalibrate fast when everything feels urgent
• How to carry responsibility without being crushed by it
• Why your calm is contagious and how it shapes everyone around you
• Real, anonymised stories from the pressure cooker: redundancy, conflict, crisis, and change

About the Author

Sally Leslie is the founder of The Leslie Link, where she works with senior professionals navigating pressure, burnout, and the emotional weight of responsibility. Think Clearly. Lead Calmly. is a practical guide any leader can pick up and use immediately.

Want to go deeper?

Reading is the first step. If you’re ready to put this into practice, join Sally at a live workshop or explore 1:1 coaching.