Being the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies is a demanding job, and no matter who you are, you need to take breaks and unwind. While many people turn to meditation or yoga to relax, Google CEO Sundar Pichai employs a lesser-known technique.
Sundar Pichai doesn’t just stay calm; it seems he operates differently from the rest of us. Amidst the surrounding turmoil, controversies, and fierce competition, the head of Google appears completely composed and steady. There is no raised voice, no sign of anxiety—just a calm, grounded presence that somehow makes the impossible seem routine. Most of us feel the stress of a Monday morning meeting; imagine, then, the feeling of steering a global AI race and facing the constant scrutiny that comes with running one of the most watched companies in human history. The stakes are incredibly high and the pressure can be suffocating, yet he looks as though he has just returned from a peaceful stroll in the park.
It is not merely about composure. It is something much deeper—something most people spend years trying to achieve but never fully master. Pichai is clearly cut from a different cloth, and frankly, we are all a bit curious to uncover his secret.
Those who have worked with him speak openly about his patience, his ability to truly listen to others, and the fact that he doesn’t just appear calm—he genuinely is calm. In a world where a quick reaction is often equated with quick thinking, Pichai stands as a living example of the exact opposite. So, what exactly do they do? And more importantly—can any of us learn to do the same?
Stop talking and truly listen
This is something most of us do without a second thought. The moment someone starts speaking—especially when we disagree or feel defensive—we stop listening and start preparing. We begin formulating our counter-argument before the other person has even finished speaking. Pichai doesn’t do this. People who have attended meetings with him say he listens as if the other person’s words truly matter to him. It isn’t feigned interest, but genuine engagement. And the results speak for themselves regarding its effectiveness. When you let go of the rush to respond immediately, your answers become more precise. Your decisions reflect less ego and greater clarity. A brief pause can calm a conversation that was veering off track.
This mindset shapes how he handles disagreement. To be honest, most of us care more about proving ourselves right than about making things better. Pichai has spent his career doing the exact opposite—prioritizing results over ego and solutions over simply having the last word. It sounds simple, yet surprisingly few of us actually practice it. How often have you found yourself in an argument—at work, at home, or with people you truly care about—where, in your determination to win, you lost sight of the actual issue?
The calm confidence of a long-term thinker
Google is currently navigating the most competitive period in its history. Artificial intelligence is advancing so rapidly that it could easily unsettle most executives. Yet, when Pichai speaks about this, there is no trace of nervousness or unease in his voice. He discusses challenges as if he has accepted that difficult times are simply part of the journey, rather than a sign that everything is falling apart. Perhaps this is what makes him most human. He has seen enough of life to know that a bad day is not the end of the story. That boy from Chennai—who lived with his entire family in a one-bedroom home, without a television or a clear, paved path to success, and who somehow rose to lead one of the world’s most powerful companies—did not reach that position by panicking at every setback. He got there by remaining calm, staying the course, and trusting in the importance of playing the “long game.”
If Pichai’s life teaches us anything, it is that winners are rarely those who make the most noise or run the fastest; winners are those who keep moving forward with calm and composure.