Distancing
How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions
Published on 14. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-241-66165-9 (ISBN)
Description
'A tactical, science-based blueprint for managing situations clearly and objectively ... a tour-de-force' ETHAN KROSS
Distance gives you perspective. Bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around! David Marquet and professor of psychology Michael Gillespie show you how to make better decisions by becoming your own coach.
Be yourself. Be fully present. Be in the moment. That is the message we hear constantly. Yet, the biggest obstacle to making wiser, more successful decisions is often... ourselves. Our limited perspective biases our choices, leading us to defend past actions rather than seek better alternatives. We need to step outside our narrow view and gain an objective, fresh perspective. In other words, we need a coach.
In Distancing, David Marquet and Michael Gillespie show us how to become our own coach using a powerful mental technique called psychological distancing. By practicing:
Self-distancing: we can be someone else by adopting the perspective of an outside observer.
Spatial distancing: we can be somewhere else by zooming out and seeing ourselves as part of a larger picture.
Temporal distancing: we can be sometime else by making decisions from the vantage point of our future self.
Backed by compelling scientific research, real-world examples and practical exercises, Distancing empowers you to break free from self-limiting patterns and make clearer, smarter choices. The tools are simple. The impact is profound.
Distance gives you perspective. Bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around! David Marquet and professor of psychology Michael Gillespie show you how to make better decisions by becoming your own coach.
Be yourself. Be fully present. Be in the moment. That is the message we hear constantly. Yet, the biggest obstacle to making wiser, more successful decisions is often... ourselves. Our limited perspective biases our choices, leading us to defend past actions rather than seek better alternatives. We need to step outside our narrow view and gain an objective, fresh perspective. In other words, we need a coach.
In Distancing, David Marquet and Michael Gillespie show us how to become our own coach using a powerful mental technique called psychological distancing. By practicing:
Self-distancing: we can be someone else by adopting the perspective of an outside observer.
Spatial distancing: we can be somewhere else by zooming out and seeing ourselves as part of a larger picture.
Temporal distancing: we can be sometime else by making decisions from the vantage point of our future self.
Backed by compelling scientific research, real-world examples and practical exercises, Distancing empowers you to break free from self-limiting patterns and make clearer, smarter choices. The tools are simple. The impact is profound.
Reviews / Votes
A key challenge we all struggle with at times is the ability to extract ourselves from the immediacy of the moment when we become too overwhelmed to think clearly and objectively. Distancing provides readers with a tactical, science-based blueprint for managing these situations. Clearly written and deeply researched, it's a tour-de-force -- Ethan Kross, bestselling author of Shift and Chatter Distancing makes so much sense, it should be required reading for Earthlings. The stories are page-turning, the science is dazzling and the advice comes in plain English. Want to level up your life by making smarter decisions? Start with this book -- Lynn Sherr, journalist and bestselling author The best leaders don't just react-they step back, gain perspective and make better decisions. Distancing unlocks that hidden ability in all of us. If you want to make better decisions, you need to read this book -- Verne Harnish, Founder of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and author of Start to Scale Distancing promises an approach that transforms the navigation of both professional challenges and personal dilemmas. Learning to gain distance from yourself is the ultimate cognitive hack: the ability to outsmart your own biases and make decisions that truly align with your long-term goals. These psychological techniques aren't just theoretical-they're a radical tool for personal reinvention -- Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets Why do bridge teams equipped with the necessary information still make bad decisions? This book answers that question and tells us what we can do about it -- for ourselves and for our teams -- John Konrad V, Founder of gCaptainMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
292 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-66165-9 (9780241661659)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 08/2026
Penguin Books Ltd
€15.50
Not yet published
E-Book
08/2025
Penguin Books Ltd
€14.99
Available for download
Persons
L. David Marquet (Author)
L. David Marquet graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commanded the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe. Since retiring from the Navy, he has worked with businesses globally as a leadership consultant and speaks about Intent-Based Leadership around the world. A highly sought-after speaker, his clients include Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, professional sports teams, business schools and governments. He is the bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around! and Leadership Is Language. His books have been translated into 15 languages.
Michael Gillespie (Author)
Michael A. Gillespie is a psychology professor at the University of South Florida, where he specializes in organizational psychology and directs the Human Applied Cognition and Decision-Making Lab. His widely cited research on psychological measurement, organisational culture, and leadership is published in top business and psychology journals. He earned his BA from the University of South Florida, his MA from Michigan State University, and his PhD from Bowling Green State University.
L. David Marquet graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commanded the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe. Since retiring from the Navy, he has worked with businesses globally as a leadership consultant and speaks about Intent-Based Leadership around the world. A highly sought-after speaker, his clients include Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, professional sports teams, business schools and governments. He is the bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around! and Leadership Is Language. His books have been translated into 15 languages.
Michael Gillespie (Author)
Michael A. Gillespie is a psychology professor at the University of South Florida, where he specializes in organizational psychology and directs the Human Applied Cognition and Decision-Making Lab. His widely cited research on psychological measurement, organisational culture, and leadership is published in top business and psychology journals. He earned his BA from the University of South Florida, his MA from Michigan State University, and his PhD from Bowling Green State University.