Unbreakable by Bradley L. Kirkman & Adam Stoverink Summary
Overview of Unbreakable
In "Unbreakable," Kirkman and Stoverink decode team resilience through the haunting Mann Gulch fire case study. Endorsed by Walmart executives and MIT professors, this 2023 manual reveals why psychological safety - not just confidence - determines whether your team survives or thrives under pressure.
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Key takeaways
The Power of Unbreakable Teams: When 208 Seconds Decide Everything
When United Airlines Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese in 2009, Captain "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew had just 208 seconds to save 155 lives. Their remarkable Hudson River landing wasn't luck - it was resilient teamwork under extreme pressure. What separates teams that crumble from those that emerge stronger? The answer lies in team resilience: the capacity to bounce back from setbacks that damage valuable team processes. In today's volatile business landscape, this skill has become non-negotiable - even Google identifies it as essential for high performance. True resilience isn't avoiding adversity but responding effectively when it strikes. Resilient teams excel at three specific actions: sensemaking (interpreting disruptions and generating solutions), coalescing (uniting rather than splintering), and persisting (maintaining motivation despite psychological deflation). Think of resilience as potential energy - teams don't need to have already bounced back to be resilient; they simply need the capacity to do so when required.
When Teams Break: Learning from Tragedy
Building Team Confidence: The Motivational Foundation
Creating Clear Teamwork Roadmaps: Coordinated Action Under Pressure
The Art of Team Improvisation: Organizational Jazz
Psychological Safety: The Foundation of Resilience
From Breaking to Unbreakable: The Resilience Journey
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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