I had a client ask me that recently. Her exact words: "You're always calm. Or is that just you in coaching sessions because I'm a client?"
Fair question. Because the truth is, that wasn't always me.
Earlier in my career, calm wasn't something I'd associate with how I showed up. I was reactive. Frustrated easily. Carried stress from one conversation into the next.
Where the real shift came from
Like most people in recruitment, I probably thought the answer was more professional development. Better scripts. Better structure. Better training. That helps. But it's not the full picture.
The biggest changes in how I show up didn't come from anything work-related. They came from personal development — things that had nothing to do with recruitment.
For me, one of the biggest turning points was doing a few Ayahuasca ceremonies a few years ago. Not something I ever expected to do — and not something I'm saying everyone should try. But for me, it was genuinely one of the most impactful experiences I've had.
It gave me a level of clarity and calm I hadn't experienced before. Less reactive. More present. More considered in how I think and respond. And that carries into everything.
Why this matters for recruitment
Your thinking. Your emotional state. Your ability to handle pressure. In recruitment, that shows up everywhere.
You can have the best process in the world. But if you're reactive, inconsistent or easily thrown off, it limits how effective that process actually is.
The connection
They're the same thing. If things aren't right outside of work, it shows up in work. If you're not developing yourself outside of recruitment, it limits how far you can go within it.
That's why whenever I'm interviewing people to join our business, I always ask about personal development — not just courses or training, but what they've done to work on themselves. Because it has a direct impact on how they perform.
What this looks like in practice
For most people, it's much simpler.
That's where the real gains are. Because the more stable and clear you are, the better you operate. And that's what people feel when they work with you.
Calm isn't something that just happens. It's something that gets built over time. And most of that work has nothing to do with recruitment — but it has a massive impact on how you show up within it.
Always happy to have a chat so feel free to reach out,
Ez Khan
