https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-secret-of-Vladimir-Putin-being-so-calm-all-the-time
Yes! He is, isn’t he? I study this secret (with much success!) Here’s my theories:
He’s a zen master. No, really, he’s a bonafide judo master
He’s right with God. He’s sure of the correctness of his path, that his actions are just. He sleeps well at night.
He understands discipline and that the only person one can control 💯 is oneself
He works out 2 hours a day and plays many fun sports, hockey, horse riding, judo…
He sweats in the Russian banya and ice cold bath daily (wim hoff method anyone?)
He spends a lot of time in nature, especially quality time with his BFF
He drinks only tea (rarely alcohol), and some special Siberian herb tea
He adores animals and children
He has presence. 💯 present in every moment. whoever he is speaking to has his full attention and whatever he is doing is the most important thing in the world at that moment in time
He has love for all forms of life, from the smallest to the greatest
He has a lot of nuclear weapons
He understands that if he were to allow the provocations against him and Russia to drive him to use them, everyone will die. If you are alive today, thank Putin’s Calm 😉
He treats his closest people right and he is in charge of choosing his own security detail (he credits that with still being alive)
He doesn’t care what people think of him and doesn’t feel the need to correct their lies about him. He always treats adversaries with respect. This is what really had me fascinated about him!
Huilo means “a$$hole” but does he care? No.
He says love is the secret to happy International as well as family relations
He’s not afraid of death. He knows that he is immortal and nothing here can hurt him (so are you!)
He’s been through a hard life, like his family didn’t even have their own bathroom growing up!
But at the same time his parents loved him very much. He says this love is what gives confidence to children.
“What is the secret of Vladimir Putin being so calm all the time?”
Have you ever wondered why Putin never debates other candidates before the election? He is never at ease with impromptu speaking. Everything he does is always scripted and prepared in advance. His speeches, remarks and talking points are written by professional speechwriters and diplomats. Most questions from journalists and “ordinary citizens” are carefully vetted beforehand. He skillfully shifts responsibility when something may put him under unfavorable circumstances. He has access to surveillance tools, covert payrolls and personal secrets about individuals he is dealing with. He never posts on social media. His personal life and family are kept in secret.
Putin is not a very good public speaker and feels very nervous when things go off-script.
Increased emotionality is not appreciated in Russian culture, in men it is condemned. Therefore he is sustained. Plus a specific professional training. He is a scout, and must be able to control his emotions.
Knowing, one way or the other, he will get the respect he is demanding. His background and start of career does originate from the KGB, the Secret Service of the former USSR. As this has not been deemed as unsuitable for political activities in the “new democratic” Russia, he can sleep at ease at night time, presenting himself as refreshed and relaxed, dealing with new challenges every day.
Unless somebody is confronting him with “bare arguments” …
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Update 13 September 2020: I am stunned. This “flippantly” attached picture has sent the answer to record viewing with an amazing numbers of upvotes, both figures still rising.
It has inspired me to report a few more facts on this incident, which occurred on the Hannover Industrial Fair in 2013. Russia was the special feature nation and as such Putin rocked up for viewing the exhibition.
Considering the latest concept car (at that time) of Volkswagen, the XL-1, Merkel might have hinted, that she will present him with a “special hottie”.
When visiting the VW stand, the protest rolled off, as presented in the picture above. Spontaneous reaction of Putin …
Yep, 2 thumbs up.
“That was ‘ace’. Was that the ‘hottie’ … or have YOU planned any other personal ‘presentation’ … ?”
“O.k. … time to check out ‘that’ Volkswagen. Without backseats …”
This incident occurred in April 2013. In June of that year Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin confirmed their divorce after 30 years of marriage. Reason: They don’t see each other too often any more.
Short answer:
Putin received superb training and solid experience as a KGB operative. For KGB alumni, staying calm is a freshman 101 skill.
KGB schools used a multitude of techniques to teach newbie operatives how to manage the feeling of permanent, looming threat. They had a whole career ahead of them filled with this on an everyday basis. To survive and succeed in the life of non-stop paranoia, they needed to handle it on their own on a deeply personal level.
Successful spies should know how to relax and act natural at all times. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to blend with the scene, operate below the radar, and get below their mark’s guards.
It is also very important to convert the tension of constant paranoia into the habit of calm observation and scanning for actual threats. After a few years, this becomes second nature for a spy.
Closely watch Mark Rylance, who plays a Soviet spy in the movie Bridge of Spies. He gives a very good rendering of that level-headed, friendly, yet sharp composure—the mark of a top-level spy.
Below, another great example of what a well-trained spy looks like. This is Bob Benson in the TV show Mad Men. Within ten seconds of his first appearance in the sixth season of the show, my Soviet-era spy radar went all red: This must be a spy!
- Bob projects a calm, steady, strong sense of mission. He’s so at odds with the non-stop vain talk, self-doubt, wild ego trips, and petty grudges that fill the world of advertisement.
- His “mail room boy” humbleness in approaching people is mismatched with rock-solid confidence in handling rejections.
- He’s very positive and calm. He takes all insults, big and small, on the chin, and never lets them distract him from the task at hand. He’s a gadfly with a sales budget.
- He knows the power of “silly gifts” and small favors to people who don’t even know his name.
- He knows how to be a jerk, but is always respectful to women and the small people in the retinue of the big guys, even the most insignificant of them.
- He knows how to handle panic. Even under enormous stress, he can think rationally and talk reason.
Vladimir Putin is an apparent introvert, which makes him look very different from the suave, gregarious Bob Benson. But behind our President’s sour, preoccupied air of a busy backroom operator, there’s the same deep understanding of human psychology, self-reflection, and long, often ruthless training. That’s something only the best of con men can achieve on their own.
Additional reading
Dima Vorobiev's answer to Espionage and Spying: How do you spot a secret agent?
Dima Vorobiev's answer to Where does Vladimir Putin's power come from?
Dima Vorobiev's answer to Why is Vladimir Putin so soft spoken?
As a KGB operative he has been extensively trained to control his emotions, and not to be overruled by sentiment. Second training an agent has to go through is to wear a mask of expressionless face in totality - eyes, lips, nose, ears, facial muscles, movement of arms, legs, body posture and very importantly voice. Or to wear a face as per the need of a task. So if Putin needs to show anxiety in his face, he would portray anxiety, if he need to portray warmth, you would see genuine smile They are extensively trained on reading body language, voice, as well controlling body language. Best of the secret agents would never get caught on lie detector machine. Their thinking is seamless and do not trigger any pulse movement for detection.
I am putting few picture for understanding his body language, what he wanted to portray..
See his picture in 1991. He resigned from KGB in 1991. Fresh from KGB - see his piercing looks and then see the transformation. The last picture is the latest one.
Most nation heads are imparted sessions on body language, but they get it only after assuming office, so it's difficult for them to master it. Which is not the case for Putin. Putin keeps on assessing his opponent live, apart from having extensive home work ready.
He thinks like a chess player keeping his moves and countermoves ready in anticipation of all possible move by the opponent. It is extremely difficult to surprise him. He is in a position to know about the possible outcome well in advance, as such you wouldn't find him tense. He is prepared for all possible eventuality well in advance. People could be cool only when they know what is coming up. So he is clam. And even if he's not calm, you wouldn't be getting any sign in his face or body language. He doesn't have to do it deliberately, it comes of automatically. For others the process is not natural. So we see lots of facial expressions.
Very importantly there would hardly be any leader in the world of his stature with so much experience in office. He is in power since 1999, four term as President and one term as PM apart from his long service carrier of 16 years. Being in power for a country like Russia with critical internal as well as external dynamics, there would hardly be any situation which would take him by surprise, or which would seem new to him.
Image source - Google.
Calm breeds calm
Panic breeds panic
I don’t have to be Russian or former KGB to understand that.
It’s a common leadership thing
He is the one of the badass leaders in the world.
Look to him!
So lets answer to this question. He is known as KGB agent. All we know that if you are KGB agent you need to keep your emotions and must keep tortures if you will have it. This is why he is so calms as he is trained to be.
Cheers!! Do not forget to follow!
I don’t know Putin myself, but imagine he remains calm all the time because he never takes anything personally.
When you learn how to not take things personally you will be free. And I imagine Putin feels as if he is the freest person on earth.
He has no interest in other people’s opinions of him. He doesn’t care whether they like, hate, respect, loathe, despise him. He is not interested in their opinions. I bet he has opinions of himself, and they are always good.
If you want to remain calm under all circumstances, learn how to not take things personally.
You will know freedom for the first time.
He is an expert at what he does.
A famous American expression says “Walk softly, and carry a big stick” Vladimir can do that like no-one else.
There is a photo going around showing Putin staring down some guys on a bus. They look terrified. They did not know it was him, until he turned around.
Is it real, or is it internet bullshitski! Well it turns out to be an American Bullshit meme. Putin was at a football match to quell a number of football hooliganism episodes. Well done Vladimir.
He's a head of state. He's supposed to appear calm in front of the media. That is because his regime built an image around stability and discipline. But what he is going through in his mind actually, only his inner circle will know. I'd ask his driver if I was u, after winning over his confidence.
This is visibility, you are simply not attentive. Putin has very lively emotional eyes, you can easily guess his thoughts and mood from them. He loves to joke, loves to laugh, may be surprised, angry. But he never screams. I do not remember a single case in 20 years.
Short answer: Putin received superb training and solid experience as a KGB operative. For KGB alumni, staying calm is a freshman 101 skill.
(Dima Vorobiev)
Well, short it is. But is it true or at least comprehensive?
Let’s see. The Russian word for Putin state-of-mood is самообладание. It translates as [self-control, self-command, self-possession; the presence of mind, nerve; composure].
Now, what do you think, would а matriculate who does not possess that quality of composure in the first place pass the routine filters to the KGB training school?
No, of course not. That is because no cut will turn a simple glass into a diamond.
As an illustration of this thesis, I will quote the last before the collapse of the Soviet Union director of the KGB - Leonid Shebarshin: Stalin, a seminarian, made the USSR a world power. But Gorbachev, a graduate from two universities, led the USSR to collapse.
Stalin, let me note in the brackets, when appointing someone to a meeting, use to warn: be prepared. That is the next source of customary Putin's composure - he is competent and well prepared. Always.
Putin judoka throws equally well from both sides. That is a rare quality in martial arts. It says that both Putin's brain hemispheres function equally well, which makes him unpredictable in the fight. Certainly, not a guy one wants to mess up with. Here you are the third secret of Vladimir Putin being so calm all the time.
Well, we are now prepared to answer the title question about Putin secrets of his observed calmness:
- Composure;
- Equally good functioning both brain hemispheres;
- Competency and preparedness.
Watch this: the ultimate elegancy.
Thanks for asking, Jerry Joo and Laurel L. Anderson
It takes years of training to master the art of remaining calm in the manner that Putin has. People are not born with the kind of patience and grace under fire that Putin exhibits. He developed it through years of training, first as a martial artist and then as a special operator with the KGB. Through his training and on the job experiences, Putin was forced to deal with some severe stresses that would break most people as part of his training. However, in Putin’s case, he was one of the lucky few who managed to make it through and keep charging. After the kinds of harrowing experiences Putin endured throughout his career, he has developed a quiet confidence.
He's insulated.
Every world leader is. It's easy to be calm when you have hundreds of body guards, an entire military, and a nation that surround you.
A lot of posts here parrot the cult of personality propaganda that Putin cultivates online. They all fell for it like sheep.
Look at this dude. What an absolute unit. And by absolute, I mean like the Planck scale.
Wow look how badass the dear leader is:
“Take another picture of me Sven! The lighting was bad on the last one”
“Hold on. I'll go back and walk toward the camera again. Make sure to get my good angle this time. Put the camera low to the ground. It makes me look taller.”
He's “calm” because that's the image he wants to portray and because he has a team of propagandists like any other cult leader. He's as calm as Kim Kardashian is. As any celebrity, wealthy person, or official is. He, like they, has a team of people surrounding him to keep him insulated from any situation that's too much.
Really though, he's just a little dictator and it must be funny for other world leaders to interact him given all the larger than life photoshoots he has done only to see the short little smug guy walk in trying to be tough.
Putin is a meme and everyone that fell for it needs to reevaluate why they are so willing to cheerlead for another male that they think is the image of alpha behavior. There's something quite pathetic about that sort of thing.
I’m no expert. I willingly admit to being an “armchair expert”.
So with that caveat out of the way - is he? Is he really that calm all the time?
Or is he any more calm than any other world leader?
I would wager that Russia being a bit of a closed off country to the world (it isn’t closed off like North Korea, but politically it’s quite heavily guarded, censored and state-controlled) that viewing Vladimir Putin as being calm all the time is more a byproduct of Russian state control over its media and the video evidence of Putin being emotional simply doesn’t filter down to the public consciousness the way it does of leaders in stable democracies.
There are plenty of off-script video snippets on YouTube, behind the scenes meetings - all being made for Russian TV. so They aren’t secretive, just not for an non-Russian international audience. Even some interviews with US media (where his words are translated into English via interpreter) where he appears angry, irritated, defensive, or irate.
I’m not going to link them because they aren’t censored, if you go onto google or YouTube, there are plenty of them for you to find.
He was interviewed by Megyn Kelly a few years ago about Russian interference into the Trump election. At one point, his eyes go wide, he gets visibly annoyed, even angered by the question, and he also stumbles on his words in his answer a bit (even the translator “translated” some of the word stumbling).
There are dozens/countless more where he berated local officials or project managers of various construction projects in Russian - like when he visits the Sochi Winter Olympics venue and it is suffering construction delays and budget overruns.
Granted, Putin does not seem to be prone to massive temper tantrums and fits of rage like Donald Trump was and is. At least not on camera. Then again, in a country like Russia where there are no longer any independent news and media organisations - and every tv channel is simply a propaganda branch of the Kremlin, they would have no incentive (and would be putting themselves in danger) if they broadcast something like that.
I actually think a man like Putin would regularly fly into a rage behind the scenes. It’s just never filmed because of Russian media being state controlled and a propaganda wing for the Kremlin. The narrative must always be of a strong and in-control leader.
Finally, you only need to see some of his announcements in recent weeks - particularly the one where he announced Russia was launching an invasion and war against UkraIne.
(I’m just calling a spade a spade - he referred to it as a special military operation - but let’s be honest, it’s a Russian Invasion and a war).
He was looking contemptuous and not entirely rational. To be generous, you’d say he was delusional, to be blunt, you’d say he was looking hateful, spiteful and full of anger and a madman who has gone insane.
Putin thinks before he acts.
For right or wrong, that’s a great military skill to learn and use to succeed in life. It forces discipline, strategy, and one’s powers of persuasion and influence to take hold. It makes for good negotiations, good luck, poker hands, and even international decisions.
Good luck. Mac
What other option does he have? Emotion is horrible for practical decision making so why wouldn’t he learn to remove it? He doesn’t have to play up emotional acts for political and public consumption like American politicians do.
You do know that emotions are terrible for making proper, practical decisions, right?
He’s got all the power, speak up against him and you’ll be dead.
What’s to fight and argue about when you hold all the cards?
i hope the russian people stop putin.
Botox has this effect of severely reducing one’s ability to have a nuanced inventory of facial expressions.
Plastic surgery is also known to interfere with one’s facial mobility.
If one combines both, like Putin does, the result is a permanent poker face. Which, in his case, has some benefits.
Here’s Putin looking very happy.
He's not. If you watch interviews with him where someone asks him a question he hasn't prepared for, he gets anxious; if you watch his earliest interviews when he is new on the job, he comes off as quiet and a little meek.
Putin looks calm all the time because he has learned good PR management and now everything he does in public is tightly rehearsed and controlled, plus he's got years of experience.
He's good at masking his anxiety and putting up a front, but it is still there if you know what to look for.
Do bare in mind that he never planned on getting into politics as a young man and certainly never tried to be President- he was more or less given the job by Yeltsin and his government because he was viewed as reliable, competent and loyal, not because he sought power. He's gotten used to the job, but he was probably uncomfortable with it for a time.
Probably a few factors involved:
- Putin obviously controls what video footage of him is aired, except for isolated occasions like international conferences, and part of the image he cultivates of always being in control includes not letting people see him upset.
- He was a career KGB officer who ran an espionage ring in Germany before the fall of the USSR, and to do that job he had to be a master of maintaining an unreadable face except when he chooses to show an expression.
- Part of it is probably his personality. Putin exhibits the hallmarks of a clear-cut sociopath, and one of the patterns often seen in sociopaths is emotional stunting. They’re easily bored, which is one reason they tend to be thrill-seekers and engage in impulsive and reckless acts that endanger their jobs, freedom, relationships, and physical wellbeing, as well as those of others. If you look at Putin’s record of actions rather than how his face looked while he was taking those actions, he starts looking like a hothead. That also fits with his history in his youth of getting into frequent brawls.
However, reliable sources have reported that Putin has in fact been seriously angry or worried in recent years when his most recent “election” resulted in mass protests against him, which he blamed on Hillary Clinton. Putin does take insults very personally, interprets many things as insults that may not be aimed at him, and feels compelled to retaliate. He just doesn’t go on TV or Twitter to express that anger and concern - he invades countries or has people shot, poisoned, or thrown out of windows instead.
He is a world leader and acts like it. His calm is infectious. Probably a trait trained into his character when he was with the KGB. Also it doesn't seem he has too much competition during election time.
Image Source: Google
One of the main reason is that Putin is a former KGB operative (and a skilled one). These people learn how to stay calm in stressful situations as part of their basic training. Here is the quote from a deceased U.S. Senator John McCain: "I looked into Mr. Putin’s eyes, and I saw three things: a "K" and a "G" and a "B."
Yet another reason for it that Putin is a leader of a great country and he is expected by his inferiors to maintain calm and focus in all kinds of situations. In other words, he has to look and act like a Tsar(Emperor). He is not tall, but he needs to look formidable. So, his posture is firm and steady, he tends to look directly into people’s eyes, a bit confrontational, but in a manner expected of a Tsar.
Putin has a dominant personality. He enjoys power over others and expects obedience and respect. Finally, Putin's face has been smoothed by generous infusions of Botox. Botox relaxes your facial muscles and make your face appear static.
Image Source: Google
Body language of Putin in above picture for example states that who is the Alpha Male.
Image Source: Google
Beside the above reasons I will also give credit to his martial arts background. He has a rich martial art background in judo,kyokushin, sambo etc.
I think all these reasons are enough to provide the answer to above question.
I once went out with a Russian man. The thing people need to understand about Russian men, particularly those who are older or grew up in a rural area, is that they do not go in for any of this Western new-age masculinity that we’re into that is basically femininity by another name.
A Russian man is what we in the West were back in 1960 - he is the head of his house, he protects and provides for his family, and he doesn’t cry.
What we call toxic masculinity, they call ‘’being a man’’. I cannot think of something that would destroy Putin’s career quicker than blubbering on camera like Prince Harry did when he was holding his newborn.
I’ll tell you this much: that guy I spoke of, was one of the best boyfriends I ever had. It was a pity that his visa ran out because I would probably be with him now. If you want the John Wayne type, you go with a Russian.
We can say many things about Vladimir Putin, but he is a capable leader. Like most Russians Vladimir Putin is a chess player with few fixed principles who approaches everything on a case by case basis, whereby his risks are calculated while responding pragmatically and flexible to events.
In order to comprehend Vladimir Putin is to look at Russia as a "theocratic nationalist autocracy" and at his favourited philosophers Nikolai Berdyaev, Vladimir Solovyov and Ivan Ilyin.
Ilyin expresses overblown visions of grandeur, while all of this is based on the devotion to the Orthodox faith and the influence of the Orthodox Church and the belief in Russian exceptionalism which as a autocracy is destined to have its own unique place in the world.
As Ilyin wrote "the time will come when Russia will rise from disintegration and humiliation and enter into a time of new development and greatness."
In this regard Russia will continue to develop its civic nationalism and will not bow to Western pressure. As President Putin sees this, Russia is attempting to halt what has been a creeping western (US + EU) invasion of Russia since 1991 and is at war with the free Liberal order an order which the Kremlin considers an existential threat to its rule and must therefore defeat it.
Wasn’t Putin voted in as president for life this past year or so? (A fact which really bothers 45 as he thinks he deserves to be one, too.) At any rate, if you were just voted in as president for life and you have some KGB training, don’t you think you’d be calm as well? You would have carte blanche to do pretty much whatever you want and to whomever you want, with few if any repercussions.
He’s Russian. Displays of excessive emotion aren’t culturally respected there, especially from leaders. The man was raised in this culture, and was later in the KGB who know plenty about psychological tactics.
That said, he doesn’t mask everything. You can see when he’s tense or irritated, or amused or genuinely relaxed easily enough if you are aware of the basics of body language.
The man is a trained KGB killer, who has survived the fall of the Soviet Union to fight his way to the top and become dictator-for-life of Russia…
That is the face of confidence…
When you grow up in a Soviet style Government, or Communist Government rather, there are attributes you acquire.
Not showing emotion, weakness, is one of them.
Everything must be a calculated decision.
He conditioned himself to be that way. Showing no emotion at all means your enemy can’t read you! If your enemy can’t read you, they have no idea what your thinking or what your next move will be. That is called a checkmate. Very smart man he is.
It takes a super strong individual to condition themselves like that!
That is what they teach in KGB.
A Russian intellectual discussing a technical or scientific issue with a friend he generally agrees with, in the West can be easily mistaken for a thug threatening the victim into submission:
But that’s the intelligentsia. The KGB was cultivating the culture of speaking calmly, softly and near indifferently. It is as a sign of belonging to an exclusive club as a British upper class accent.
We all have seen & heard several things about Vladimir Putin. From his James Bond-like photographs to his crowd-pulling campaigns.
- Adept at psychology. Vladimir Putin knows that he is in control; he understands the psychology of intimidation, leadership & getting under the skin of his potential competitors.
- Awareness of his position. He is aware of his position, its strengths & vulnerabilities. Awareness, not arrogance. He knows his vulnerabilities & the fact that there are hundreds of people within his power circles, ready to dethrone him. Putin sees the dissolution of the USSR as a personal loss.
- Aware of the pulse of his people/society. Putin knows the Russian psyche like the back of his hand. Knowing the people is a critical step in ensuring power retention. Russians respect a show of power & that is precisely what he has consistently demonstrated through making tough decisions, even if some of them did not sit well with parts of his people. This can be seen in the repeated failures of the US-based, global, neo-Liberal deep state in dismembering Russia.
- Willingness to be tough. Part of being a strong leader is being able to take steps that most others would be too timid to take. Whether it is crushing manufactured/wilful dissent, engage in military actions within the shadow of a nuclear umbrella, or being able to plan contingency measures while harrowing a powerful, invisible enemy, Putin does what is required to ensure stability - both for himself & his country.
- Acceptance of an eventual end. Putin accepts that he is not larger than life, despite the outward projections in public. Most powerful rulers often start believing their image of invincibility leading to their quick fall. Putin doesn’t.
- Constant vigilance. Despite his calm demeanour in front of world powers, Putin will always keep his guard up - during his holidays, morning runs, in meetings, even while going to bed. It requires an immensely powerful mind to be able to do all this calmly without breaking down.
- Knowledge of his enemies. Putin assiduously studies his enemies. He knows how & more importantly who controls the US/Western Europe behind the gimmick of the ‘free world’. He knows their strengths, insecurities, worries, & weaknesses.
Perhaps this is a reflex action of his years of service in the KGB or that he is very passionate about his job; Vladimir Putin is able to outmanoeuvre his enemies by using a combination of these 7 factors.
He may be rich, “autocratic” and allegedly corrupt to keep the power, but he knows that he is the only one who stands between Russia and the elites.
Judo philosophy, KGB training, long political experience… take your pick…
The more you see, the harder is to upset you…
I would argue that he has the ruthlessness of a Stalin, the brilliance of a Trotsky and the emotional control of an ace poker player. If he shows emotion, it is intentional and designed for effect and the right approach at the time. He doesn’t get mad, he gets even. You don’t get to his position without being in control of yourself.
Looking at this deeper than first meets the eye question dispassionately. No heaped insults or sychophantic praise piled upon him here!
The continual study of a martial art probably helps deal with stress. He also appears to have a faith of some kind. He is a strong supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church. That can also help.
He will also have a dedicated team of people around him which will help.
Whether you like it or not, he has a very strong grip on the Russian federation and that has been the case a very long time.
He is an authoritarian and obviously has a ruthless streak (that almost goes without saying - He worked for the KGB in East Germany - I won’t mention Salisbury. There is a certain psychopathology necessary this kind of work. Clearly there is no evidence. Ah’hmm) and many Russians appear to like or at least accept that, at least enough to keep him in power. He knows this so that will help him feel calm rather than not.
He does not appear to have any serious contenders. He has dealt with any one way or another over the years…
He knows all this so he is not worried about being replaced or overthrown any time soon. That will help him feel calm and secure about his position.
He clearly possesses soft skills and knows how to get enough people to like him and do his bidding. He is nuanced. He not a common-a-garden brutal dictator or a malevolent despot. It is not all about him. It is more about Russia. He understands his country, his people and leadership very well. This allows him to remain calm.
He doesn’t appear to have a need to be liked by all. That all goes to promote a sense of calm
As he will no doubt appreciate, nothing can last forever. A highly intelligent individual, he has no doubt accepted this and will eventually move on knowing he has done the best, in his terms, for his beloved Russia. .
Smiling assassin or easy-going “bloody nice bloke” - You decide!
He “ACTS” calm , he’s been in power for the last 21 years (in private he’s not calm at all , he’s paranoid of loosing power) .
There’s no CAT alive in russia today that was born before Putin became president in 1999 !!!!
He has lived a dangerous life, you have to appreciate how that can help you develope skills to maintain composure. As an example, I used to be a Firefighter and an A and I team member. I have been in many life/death situations, later on in life I held a desk job and when people around me were stressed and acting out I was often asked how do I remain so calm all the time. I would always answer nobody is trying to kill me here and the building isnt on fire, there are no chemicle agents in the air threatening the city and I dont have to board a burning oil tanker today…. having somebody be rude on the phone just isnt worth all the energy being wasted.
neither is being called names by people who do not know you, its a weak mind that allows others to dictate their emotional state.
Having a million man army, a net worth of $70 Billion. Not to mention he owns the KGB or what we call today the FSB. Or maybe its drugs, if its drugs then he might be taking: Xanax, clonazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Valium, diazepam, escitalopram, propranolol, Alprazolam Intensol etc. Pick your poison.
He enjoys absolute power. He knows no one will ever contest him. For most Russians he’s a hero too. He has no reason to feel insecure and so never seems to be worried by anything.
A few that i can think of includes the following;
He KNOWS that his people have ABSOLUTE trust in him as a man of integrity who will fear nothing in protecting them and being honest to them.He is ready to defend them even with his life. He puts them FIRST before thinking about himself and he will never LIE to them unless if it is for their OWN good.
He is completely FEARLESS just like the dominant male lion. If it is a fight you are want, he is ready to give it to you anytime any place. His war chest id stocked there and he will not hesitate to use it if you touch Russia. If it is peace you want, that is even what he has in abundance and does not hesitate in dishing it out.
He is always in TOP shape physically and looks like a movie star or a regular James bond.
He LOVES Russia to a fault, and even if you dislike him, you can NEVER take away this one FACT from him even if you disliked him.
He is a sensitive and a REAL humble human being, who FEELS it when hurt. I still remembered this Lion crying openly on national TV infront of all his people, a long time ago. Which KING can do that from the bottom of his heart except an original king?
He has money. Lots of it , and money washes away almost all family and human personal problems. So he does not lose sleep over it. He only loses sleep if his people have even a little headache.
Most importantly. He knows and believes in God, and is 100% aware that God is the ultimate King that makes or breaks any man.
Who and what country, would not crave for a leader like that? I will willingly give my life to protect such a leader. And so would majority of Russians. Only the delivish ones amongst them, would hate him out of mere jealousy or misunderstanding.
I firmly believe that those are the reasons why we always see President Putin so cool and calm.
If you were the one who have all these qualities under your belt, won't you be calm?
YOU tell me!
Cheers
Before becoming the president of Russia Putin worked as a spy for the KGB, where he was most likely taught to control his emotions. That’s the most likely reason
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I bet he is calm only when he is filmed and surrounded by journalists, cameras, microphones, media etc. He is aware about the fact that Russian people and the whole World should see a calm and a confident leader and not a crazy nervous guy ready to have a nervous break down. As for the rest of situations when he is in a meeting with his subordinates in his office, nobody film or record him and he have to solve a serious problem or something bad happens, when he become nervous, i am absolutely positive that the monster came the hell out of him and his subordinates shit in their pants and no one open their mouth. He surely scream at them and bang his fists violently on his office table. Dima Vorobiev said that, well he is so calm because he is an ex KGB agent and they have special trainings, blablabla. Yes maybe they have if they are captured by some enemies, but in a country like Russia where the mafia is so strong and rich I don’t think that a simply calm and quiet good guy could succed to remain in power for so long period without any serious political oposition and zero competition. When you deal with mafia you should be much mafioso than any mafioso. No mistake about how calm he is !
I cannot speak specifically about the Putin because I obviously do not know the man. But what I can tell you is that politicians and leaders give to their public what their domestic public and voters would like to see and would like to hear. If your leader is emotional, even when he or she is laughing or showing any kind of emotions, it is to leave the impression. You will never know the truth. You see what is needed to attract most of the voters. If Russian public love people who are silent but determined, who speak briefly but dominate, who seem to be untouched by any opposite arguments… That is what they will get. And it will be perfect. If American public love loud people who are shouting ‘I’ll build a wall and make Mexico pay for it’, that is what they will get. A politician is the image of minds of his voters. It is the same for every country.
Not knowing the man, I offer that his calm demeanor emanates from the knowledge that he knows how much power he has, and he realizes that to outwardly display calm regardless of the storm he faces, unnerves his enemies.
We can’t know the answer. Putin may look calm on the outside, but inside, he may be totally stressed. We would never know the answer to that.
It may be Putin’s nature to be calm. He has been a leader in the Soviet and Russian governments for a long time.
Putin was in the KGB and they would train their operatives to be calm under stressful situations.
I don’t think Putin cares what anyone thinks about him. He is set as leader of one of the world’s most powerful countries and no one will touch him.
Some people say that Putin has no ‘soul’.
Source of image: Vladimir Putin calls for countries to combat cyberattacks together
There’s no secret. The Myer-Briggs (MBTI) likely indicates that Putin is an INTJ. INTJs represent less than 2% of the population, and we are notorious for not yielding any nonverbal cues. Our demeanor is always “calm” and not given to outward emotional expression. We as INTJs, are in constant ‘gathering information’ mode. We seek knowledge - particularly know-how - as we feed an insatiable curiosity about anything and everything. As an INTJ, Putin’s knowledge base must be vast. He knows what he knows, but more importantly, Putin is fully aware of what he doesn’t know! We possess an unnerving “stare” as we take in more knowledge and experience from those around us. INTJs are “difficult to read” when in the presence of others, and too often an unintended “aura of intimidation” radiates from them. We hate “small talk” and reckless emotional frivolity. Except for a few close confidantes, INTJs would rather be alone, as large social gatherings are anathema to us. We hate crowds, dislike the “soapbox,” and abhor being the “center of attention.”
One needs only read other submissions by INTJs on QUORA and you’ll gain an increased understanding of what makes Vladimir Putin, “Putin”.
It is very likely that Putin is a sociopath. This is similar to a psychopath and narcissist - they share a common pathology in that parts of their brain are inaccessible to anyone, especially to the person. They have no ability to empathize, a very limited ability to recognize facial expressions, Each is very destructive in their own way. They have no capacity for being or giving love, and they do not care about you.
Very generally speaking, psychopaths are of relatively low intelligence - prisons are full of them. They have very limited impulse control, and have no qualms about causing pain in others. They kill for a nothing.
Narcissists have higher intelligence, and tend to end up in positions of lower and middle management. They always appear competent and disdainful of the competence of others, but they are always incompetent, in my experience. Trump is a classic narcissist, fo example. Narcissists destroy the careers of everyone around them, are incredibly destructive to their staff.
Sociopaths tend to be very intelligent. Sociopaths are often highly sought as intelligence operatives, and Putin was KGB. Sociopaths are very self-disciplined and often actually study facial expressions. At one time, criminal investigators looked for flash cards of facial expressions, but today they look for an app. To a sociopath, everyone is a tool for bettering themselves, getting on top of an organization, and managing that organization.
There seems to be a social hierarchy here. Both psychopaths and narcissists seek out the company and advice of a sociopath. TV series are filled with examples, but the best examples I know of are Dexter and Entourage.
Putin is calm exactly as much as he wants to be.
He can be affable and friendly and charming.
He can be intellectual and highly engaging.
He can be unreadably calm.
I would postulate that none of this is stuff you should take at a surface reading.
In fact, I would postulate that Putin, like most sociopaths in power, is more likely to be upset when his affect is neutral and unreadable.
When he is delivering bad news and covering it with rationalizations, he is most likely to be animated, because he wants people to trust him.
This is slightly different culture from America where a president (current tenant excluded) was expected to look trustworthy in a crisis by toning down the relateability.
We call it, “looking presidential.”
Both men have backgrounds in spy agencies. But I’d ask you to consider this — that the talent for voluntarily modulating affect came first, out of a sort of social systems theory rather than real empathy. It suited them to deal with intelligence and tradecraft, and it probably needed very little tuning.
But if you catch him one on one or in a small crowd he knows are friendly, look how he opens up?
He’s looking people in the eye, laughing, leaning in to hear better. His affect is charming and affable.
Vodka- kidding! Perhaps it’s his personality type. I have a very dear friend that moved here from Latvia (they say they’re not part of Russia and take offense). At first I viewed her as very stoic and a person very good at her job. After awhile we became good friends. One of the loveliest person I’ve come to know, she was a blessing. I miss her and quite frankly one of the most beautiful woman I’ve met! So perhaps that’s how they are raised.
Love love ❤️
Putin is actually a lawyer. Some try to label him as “ex-KGB”, but that was his employer. As a lawyer, his job is to study and analyze the facts, not be emotional and excited.
He is relishing one of the best investments that the Russians have ever made! For a few hundred million dollars he has manage to reduce the World’s only Super Power to the status of a Second World nation! A veritable Russian province!
Do we know he’s calm all the time? Bill Clinton seemed calm in public almost all the time, but we know from White House staffers, among others, that he got really angry sometimes. Not to pick on Bill, there are lots of other examples in politics, business, entertainment, sports, etc.
There is no secret. It’s called a “poker face” and many people are capable of this, especially with some training.
Poker face is an effective way to project an image of intelligence and competence, even if it’s not necessarily the case.
What is the secret of Vladimir Putin so calm all the time?
Short answer:
Putin is calm all the time probably because of the KGB training he received during the time he was a spy.
Long answer:
It is probably a professional thing. We all the know that Putin was a KGB agent so he took specialized training for hiding his emotions. I know that Putin started his career as a KGB agent and I believe that he indeed took some training, therefore he probably capable of hiding his emotions much better than an average person. Successful spies should know how to relax and act natural at all times. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to blend with the scene, operate below the radar, and get below their mark’s guards. It is also very important to convert the tension of constant chaos into the habit of calm observation and scanning for actual threats. After sometime, this becomes second nature for a spy.
But just like every average person he has his outbursts.
His seemingly unflappable public persona is probably a combination of his true personality, and years of training as a KGB agent. He’s reminiscent of another Russian totalitarian autocrat, Joseph Stalin. Calm, collected, intellectual, and devoid of remorse. Thanks for asking Jerry.
He’s former KGB or Russian spy service people. Those guys act like they’ve had all their nerves surgically removed most of the time if you read up about them and the soviet secret police.
You ought to read up on the technique that the soviet secret police used the day that they arrested Chikatilo, a Russian mass murder suspect. That was so great and fast how they did it.
In the movie Citizen X the filmmaker goes to great lengths to reproduce the arrest of Chikatilo with secret police officers walking up behind him, next to him and then in front of him to box him into a square that they “hold him in” as they move him to a waiting police van. That one scene is so cool and shows how Russian agents remain calm and work out how they do things with teamwork and precision. Chikatilo can’t do anything except go along as his portable jail moves him where they want him to be: at the police van.
The Russians learn to be calm through experience and training. They end up learning to be so relaxed that they appear to be almost dull people.
It is actually shocking for people that do not no the ‘secret’. It is actually easier than we all think. If we look at Mr.Putins biography he was a KGB agent in Germany. And all who work in the agencies have to be calm in all situations and he carries his temper from that time. Even when he was asked a question why do Russian oligarchs which get millions from government companies he was actually very calm what was a surprise for all Russians.
The secret is that the term ‘president’ is not applicable to Putin. He’s a hybrid monarch. An autocrat. President that never participated in debates during his presidential compaigns. It’s far from running for president in a way it is understood in trully democratic countries. His press conferences are set up for him to contain minor criticism to make him and his regime look democratic, on one hand, and comfort him, on the other. Picture Putin being in Trump’s shoes when he’s being asked thorny questions by the very same journalist over and over until the latter is pleased with the answer. Whereas conferences of Putin don’t let you do that. Just one question per a person. Naturally you can give any blurry answer you want as Putin’s used to do constantly. He had just few interviews through his long 20 year rule which weren’t comforting. Such as that with the Austrian journalist in 2018.
He had been in minor anxiety there. But generally managed to remain seemingly calm. And what if he had to give such interviews not once in a few decades but regularly?
Vladimir Putin is a hard-core thug who when Russia was the USSR, was a member of the KGB.
His government is authoritarian; it doesn't tolerate dissension in any expression by the citizens. Journalists seeking to tell the truth about rampant corruption within the government are quickly dispatched, I.e. murdered.
Putin has surrounded himself with 750,000 national guard, and he also has around 100,000 bodyguards. Plus the FSB and the police. All this reliably protects him from people. Well, he is like a daffodil and as an actor constantly takes care of his rating. He does not have time to deal with the internal problems of the country. He plunges into water, swims in the pool, flies on a glider, kisses fish, shows a naked torso. Etc. His task is to divert the attention of Russians from the real problems of the country.
I must surmise you don’t know Vladimir Putin very well. As he is not ‘so calm all the time’. But to explain your stereotyping of Putin: if you only presented yourself in situations where you always seem to be in control, you might appear ‘calm’ as well.
He isn’t!
Putin like Trump is all about Image. Putin’s image is that of a cam collected alpha male who is in control all the time and never loses his temper, to dominate every situation. By most reports President Putin is quite mild mannered but can lose his temper especially when it comes to factional disagreements within this government.
(How Putin wants people to think he looks when he’s angry)
Аурел
Thanks Jerry for A2A.
Comparing Putin with all other heads, I think he is a model of self-control. He has really worked very hard to build his personal reputation and face he has towards the world in general.
I feel personally that he is a charismatic person and knows that. He uses the charisma to fullest advantage. Moreover, he is very intelligent and experienced.
All this makes him a wonderful head of state.
Thanks for reading.
I think there is no secret.
He just don’t like to show emotions to look more professional.
Also he is a former KGB operative. May be he was tought to hide emotions.
I don’t see anything extraordinory.
I am a calm person too. I don’t like to show hysteria especially in public.
He understands that he is the president of the largest country on earth which has defeated all the enemies and empires which have attacked Russia throughout the history, starting from Byzantine empire, Prussians and Mongols and ending with Napoleon and Nazi Germany. Moreover, Russia has nuclear weapons that are able to end the human race and after more than 20 years in the office, Mr. Putin’s approval rating is around 70% and with new amendments to constitution, he will be allowed to have two more terms of 6 years. The position of Vladimir Putin looks extremely strong, the same as the country he is leading, so the real question would be - why should he be worried?
maybe he isnt calm all the time he just doesn't show his emotions and maintains a certain body language to have a strong image
How do you know that Vladimir Putin is calm “all the time?” Have you seen him in private? My guess is no. All you know about is all any of us know about him, which is what he chooses to show in public. For all we know he could be a neurotic freakshow behind closed doors. Don’t assume that someone’s public face is their real face.
He sees the Democrats destroying the US from within and sleeps soundly at night. At the right moment, he will move to retake large portions of Eastern Europe and know that Biden/Harris will do nothing other than “Express their concerns”.
He is definitely not. It’s all matter of language.
If you speak russian as native, you can see a whole spectrum of emotions.
The other thing that he keep it’s expression in reasonable boundaries.
Emotions for emotions don’t work for politician.
You have to deliver some point, or tell others what to do.
And that’s what he’s doing best of all - explain the point.
If you have ever met a mob boss they are highly relaxed and charismatic completely in control of their environments.
The people around them are shitting them self's in that if they say something that slightly makes the mob boss look out of control of their environments they will end up as fish food.
Putin has very good control over what’s going public about him. He does not let himself in situations where random people have chance to change his mood and make photos and videos. He does not engage in public events, press conferences and other happenings where he can face anything unpredictable.
So, chances are, he is not calm all the time, but he cares to not let you know.
Russians sound very careful in political speech so I think every word they say checked accurately by diplomats. but that’s boring!!! Please bring Trump on! If we have 10 of Trump in this world, We’ll be much happier!!
KGB training, personality, and the fact that he has no serious challengers to his power. He just kills them.
He's a trained fighter and plays chess. I also think he's been through so much that nothing takes away his calm. He's also physically active.
I think being active, being able to think, being able to make hard decisions quickly and knowing how to defend yourself….if you have all these cards in your hand you are going to have little to get stressed about.
My mother manufactures things to worry about and I think it's just attention seeking. Putin doesn't seem to be like this. Very pragmatic and realistic.
He could be quite emotional sometimes, specifically when addressing foreign audiences.
Look at him speaking German here for example:
It is all about Botox and probably other things they keep injecting into Lenin’s body. By the time Putin goes around 2050–2060, he will be ready to be laid next Lenin with no additional work needed.
Well, the flippant answer is that he is a judo champion, swimmer, horseman. Above all else, he was in the KGB before he became the prime minister and President of Russia. He might be considered a crafty and cruel politician by outsiders but to most of Russians, he has reframed them of the miserable times of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Perhaps all these may have helped him to be generally calm.
The smartest people don't really need to panic cause they have everything under control. It is for the rest to painc when they see someone so calm.
He’s a former KGB agent - which means that he was trained to remain calm and not show emotions even in the most dangerous of situations.
He is cool - this is his secret.
That’s his intrinsic character, and that’s his confidence in Russia’s nuclear weapons.
I suspect that he follows the old advice “Don’t get mad, get even.”
Mr Putin has The Cool.
Short answer: He’s not being controlled. He is in control.
He’s top of the food pyramid over there.
You just don’t have an opportunity to see him in a tense and bad humor, because Russian media constantly have been creating this image, which you’are referring to in your question.
This is an interesting question. First of all, always assume what you see and perceive is not the ultimate truth. It’s only your perception. Secondly as a politician, he has probably undergone certain trainings on code of conduct, body language and similar. But he can also be a very confident person on the inside.
People who have clear goals and values are very confident and calm, because there is no doubt in their minds. Decisions are easy to make because they are always based on their values and goals. When we focus on what is our objective and refuse to get side tracked, there is no reason for us to get upset.
On the other hand, I am sure if we would get access to his mind and thoughts, we would realize that every single person on this planet has their own doubts, struggles and insecurities. The main difference between those who let those affect their life and those who don’t is clarity and courage. Doing something despite having doubts and fears.
That’s my take on the topic. Hope this was helpful.
Everything points to massive control issues always the sign of someone deeply afraid of his own out of control psy. issues seeking to exert control over exterior reality & all people within it to pretend to himself he’s compensating. Acting out his rage constantly. The evidence is overwhelming.
He is a highly intelligent man, an ex chief of espionage, the KGB. He knows how to read body language through his years being a spy and an intelligence agency chief. He masks his feelings to present a harmless cordial persona to you, to make you let your guard down thinking he is not clever.
And if you watched him on YouTube how he answered difficult and or embarrassing questions without so much as a ruffle, you cannot help but be very impressed by his answers and his calm, sometimes smiling, sometimes grinning demeanor. He is witty , brilliant; he pretty much think on his feet.
You could say that this gentleman has decades of experience being in the world politics to know how people function, think. Even the Americans are scared of him. He has allied himself to his neighbours, what a brilliant strategy. He is a master strategist always in control of his environment.
It is not a secret, the people who rationalize the problems they face are disciplined, orderly and have already worked out a rapid and balanced response method without passion nor superficiality.
It is the difference between a childish or a mature response. Age is not related to mental age.
For example, this was thought of Trump and the US during the last G7 meeting:
He has nothing to worry about. Anything he wants, he takes. If anyone complains he has them murdered.
I think you got it wrong. He looks grim and poker-faced, anything but calm!
Even when he “smiles”, that looks like a plastic smile
One of the few things I know about Putin is that he is a teetotaller, which is very unusual in a nation which enjoys its nip of vodka apparently at the drop of a hat. What does that tell me? Well, that he is highly disciplined, highly self-aware and highly self-centred. This is not, of course, the case with all teetotallers, but one such as him in his position in the nation he leads.
I should imagine few know Putin well. I should imagine that in his private as well as his political and public life he plays everything very close to his chest. I should imagine he is quite ruthless and is able to control his emotions better than many.
Natural predisposition, combined with training, I presume.
One can say a lot of bad things about the “good old Vladimir” (and many will be correct), but he is highly intelligent and obviously has excellent family background and education.
On top of that, it's a question of adequate style. A screaming halfwit might leave a good impression on US Americans, but Russians have different expectations from their leaders.
A secret? Like it’s a good thing to not show any emotion. It’s not like a beauty secret. He is a dictator, who is going to F with him. He can do whatever he wants in his country and if you cross or challenge him, it’s likely poison for you. What country would attack him? It would be a hell of a war given the power of any country that would try. He probably only smiles in public when it’s like, oh yea you think you can F with me. He likely has better protection than the Secret Service.
He is an introvert and a thinker, his feelings are on the inside. What you see is a calm exterior of a rational introverted person.
He’s of a much higher intellect than our fake President, higher emotional IQ, also. He’s educated, too, which our fake President isn’t. It all adds up to being able to control oneself under pressure.
It can be inferred he’s accustomed to feigning calmness thanks to his experience of working as a KGB agent. Plus he’s a competent judo martial artist, so he appears to have nurtured a stable and unshakable mind through years of harsh training and mental concentration.
That would be his KGB training. Putin CAN blow his top. It takes alot and it seldom happens in public, but it's WORTH WAITING to see it. It's MAGNIFICENT when the Dwarf can't contain himself.
He has no need to rush or show that he’s upset. His experience in the KBG (our CIA), has trained him to be not over react or show emotion. I don’t know if he does, I think he would be a great poker player.
The secret is that he’s a psychopath.
Flat affect - a lack of visible emotional response - is one of the defining symptoms of psychopathy.
hi Jerry Joo
Murderousness. (Murderers being very calm).
On reflection can I change my answer to a cheerful disposition.
best wishes
:)
I don’t think there’s any secret to it. Putin is a calculating, ruthless, highly trained security-service operative and close associate of Russia’s most powerful criminal organisations who has risen through the ranks to become unchallenged leader of a thoroughly repressive autocracy. His covert overseas operations to subvert and undermine what used to be seen as the leading democratic adversaries of his country have succeeded beyond his wildest dreams and, frankly, no-one at home or abroad has managed to contrive anything of consequence to trouble him. He’s now witnessed the downfall of his most glaringly obvious useful idiot Trump but, with the USA’s credibility destroyed for a generation at least, can still afford to be entirely relaxed about his situation. Why would he be anything other than calm?
Valium?Just kidding. The 68 year old Putin is born under the Astrological sign of Libra. Putin’s calm like demeanor might reflect the inner type of personality he has. Putin’s demeanor can be quite misleading. The Putin Autocrat is hard to read and never should be underestimated. He already has one leading Sycophant in Donald Trump, the Useful Idiot president of the US. He also has Jared Kushner who wanted to open up a back channel to Moscow which would avoid detection by our Intelligence Community.
I don’t imagine he’s calm ALL the time! He has been trained in how to control his emotions. He is confident in his position & knows he’s in charge. Some people just have a more calm demeanor.
He’s got access to the elephants foot. The Chernobyl melt down created something that many don't know anything about. Perhaps he’s found a way to weaponized it. Or it could be a strategic tactic. Stoicism can be confused with calm and strong.
Possibly he is a combination of a good actor, and psychopath? Psychopath does not mean you go around murdering people, it means you don’t react emotionally the same way and don’t feel for people. you learn to mimick feelings while remaining capable of dispassionate acts
Thanks for the question.
If we’re talking about the entire time of Putin's power, then this is his successful tactic, a silent person creates a feeling of knowing the truth and smarter than one who talks incessantly.
If you’re asking about the current conflict in Karabakh and Putin's silence. It’s obvious that Russia has no right to interfere in this conflict since legally this is the land of Azerbaijan. This is confirmed by 4 UN resolutions and no country in the world has recognized the NKR. Therefore, neither Russia nor a single country in the world can prevent Azerbaijan from liberating its land.
Because he knows life isn’t serious and isn’t meant to be and everything is going to end one day .That’s one thing we have in common.I can stay calm all day the thing is he observes a lot.Maybe he’s like me too.Staying calm also helps attract good stuff into your life as you’re neutral and that’s the kind of attitude you need to manifest stuff .Putin really knows how to manifest :)
That’s is to absolutely stay calm all the time.
Thanks for A2A.
I can only make assumptions, but to me that looks like training. He has had a long and proper training to function without losing his mask. We don’t know how calm he really is: we know that he looks calm and in control, whatever mood variations he may have under the surface. And this is part of his role as a head of state and one of the most powerful men in the world. To me, that’s doing a great job in maintaining a public image, in terms of demeanour.
You should know Russian mentality better.
Russians don’t respect the emotional reactions to the events, and really despise the over-emotional reactions. The canonical view of a strong man in Russia is “a man who speaks a little, but does a lot”.
If you ever get into a Russian prison (God save you from that), you will quickly understand that people who talk are never the true leaders there. A true leader will just say a few words when needed, and that will be enough. And he can easily kill somebody without any expression on his face.
i guess having direct access to prisoners he can torture freely anytime might have something to do with it
I truly doubt that President Putin is calm all the time. I do think he cultivates an image of calmness in public.
If he has a secret, it may arise from his training and experience as a counter-intelligence officer for the Soviet KGB.
It’s possible that, like many dictators, he is something of a psychopath. But I don’t really know.
he was trained to kill and feel no emotion including children being killed. to be in KGB you had to be a trained assassin and he is still doing that now so to me nothing matters to him and sending troops to die he feels nothing
Dictators are very calm folks….they are not answerable to anyone,they dont have to sweat like in democracies to go to the people every 5 years with folded arms,they dont have to sweat when people ask them uncomfortable questions..well for dictators it's an easy life.
They also have time to go on a botox surgery…now can you fault the poor man for being so calm.
he was chosen as a KGB officer because of keeping things inside . it is not the signal corps.
Its all a facade. He is a paranoid, ‘little’ creep. He believes he has all the power and control, which makes him cocky. But he is also extremely paranoid that he could lose it - hence he kills people who get in his way, and used the rest.
He is an evil little creature.
Shalom
How do you judge that he is calm, because he does not roar?
I am not sure how right are you.
Being in power such a long time, like him, contributes to his self confidence. This is very common among people.
In friendship
Rima
Do we all agree that Vladimir Putin is a calm person all the time? I don’t agree and I don’t think so. I can see anger in his face at times. I can notice when he’s tense and when he’s calm. His facial gestures give him away in most of the times. I don’t think that he can hide his emotions that well. He’s just a normal human being.
Special Russkie drugs.
One thing you have to keep in mind is that he’s Russian. Russians have different ways of expressing emotions. I thought he was autistic at first because I’m stupid, but nope, I watched several Russians. He’s Russian.
Also, he has to be professional. He can’t be a hotpot all of the time, though he has betrayed his emotions several times, and I have a feeling he has deep emotions, especially since he listens to classical music. This also shows intelligence, the type of emotions he has. There are exceptions to this observation. I know that sounds weird. I grew up slightly blunted, able to feel more than now, and I couldn’t appreciate much more than a drum or fast noise. I jump.
Like many Russians, Putin is a competent chess player. Chess is a game played entirely in the mind. It requires cool mental deliberation. One must remain calm in the gave of adversity as you make your moves and respond to your opponents moves. That is why the ham fisted Trump administration earns failing Mark's in foreign policy.
He has all the hallmarks of a self-reliant and self assured individual with his ‘alter-ego’ being the only company he really needs.
If people wish to talk to him he’ll SUFFER their presence and appear to listen, usually with a smug smirk on his face.
His experiences and training while in the service in the old K.G.B., has undoubtedly given him a level of confidence which most western leaders will never acquire.
He is in control of himself. Contrast him with Trump. And he controls Trump.
Above all, it is probably due simply to his personality. He is a rather unemotional person and could even be a sociopath.
It’s his main job … He is the public face of this beauty.
Nikolai Patrushev, the true brains behind Putinism.
False premise.
A television crew captured him raving and ranting at an onshore base at the time of the Kursk submarine disaster in the second half of year 2000. Some of the footage appeared on Russian TV. So distressed was Putin, and so aghast was the response of the Russian nation to his unbecoming behaviour that shortly thereafter independent TV stations and broadcasters in Russia were shut down.
Thus the images and footage and stories of President Putin that appear are all sieved through an elaborate PR machine.
Thanks for request.
Experience. A lifetime of living in highly stressful situations.
He is a trained intelligence officer.
He is 70 something
Hes laughing at the mess the west continues to make while he advances his aims with the limited resorces at his disposal
It seems to me because with all his nature he knows that he is right. A genuine sense of rightness is the only source of true self-confidence.
He was head of the KGB, not a job for an emotional guy. He is an absolute dictator of the world’s largest country, loaded with the most natural resources, in possession of enough nuclear weapons to erase most life from this planet. As long as he keeps the secrete police and army generals happy and rich, he dies an old dictator, able to rig any election outcome, since he also controls the mass media inside Russia.
He is a dictator and possibly a life long ruler, and there is a secret service which is not good to the people of Russia, and his exterior which could possibly cover a cruel interior, is a persona of calmness and inscrutability, and thank you for reminding me about why I am happy not to live there.
From Dima Vorobiev’s anwser below :-
“Putin received superb training and solid experience as a KGB operative. For KGB alumni, staying calm is a freshman 101 skill.”
That and the fact that he has all the answers to all the possible - allowed - questions in a press conference at his fingertips. His national addresses are well rehearsed even if ‘live’.
His predecessor Boris - The Bopper - Eltsin was not schooled by the KGB, forerunner of the FSB,and so lost his composure under stress on several memorable occasions.
He has extensive school training as a spy, and one thing spies never do is sweat. They trained to act just as he does. I suspect underneath that polished exterior lies a lot of anger and fear. If he wasn’t scared to death about the hate his country has for him he wouldn’t be locking up or killing anyone who dares go against him.
He’s the leader of an authoritarian government. He could force everyone to bow down to him in the flip of a coin. He eats well, and has one of the best security in the world, and lives in a palace.
He has henchmen, he has the ladies, what more could you want?
He was born this way, with a phlegmatic sensory reaction. I’m a little bit the same so I understand what it’s about. I don’t panic easily, but take my time. Even though the house may be on fire it will take me a few seconds longer for me to get out of bed than everybody else.
This ”handicap” was a huge problem for Putin during his KGB training as his tutors though this was a security risk, and he had to train very hard on his gut reactions as they weren’t part of his survival instincts.
That’s all.
That is a combination of his personal temperament (look at his earliest pictures; he was unemotional always) and the KGB-style behavior (watch an interview with any KGB officer or CIA officer for that matter). His natural traits were just a very good fit.
He is a talented stateman and his aids are equally talented. I should say the Russia Administration is currently the best in the world.
Look at the brilliant Putin running the country should put the many head of state to shame. The way he speaks and the calmness of his attitude toward handling both internal and external pressure indeed amazing.
He always knows America's response before he does anything that commands our attention. Nothing!. He’s got Donny under his thumb. Donny is Putin’s man on the spot, guaranteed never to call him out on anything he does that affects the world order or American politics. Yup, nothing!
Deep inside he hates himself for not being able to hit a golf ball with a seven iron, but having total control of the DUMA gives him peace, along with knowing none of them can hit a golf ball either.
I think he has right brain anxiety driven control OCD, this carries though to everything about him total control, I would not like to be around when someone or something threatens his control it may not be pretty.
I know people like this they seem very calm on the outside but inside the OCD can be working away, soon he will have control of Russia for life like X.J has with the CPC he will like this.
EGMi threatens Putins control it maximises use of the left logical/positive brain our goodness/oneness/inner happiness, if he knew how big a threat it could be to a right wing world I may not be here lol.
Discipline, training and a long view. But also, an early and painful lesson.
Little Volodya was not always a quiet boy. According to friends, sucking up maybe, he saw a propaganda poster about a Young Pioneer’s duty to prevent bullying and took it to heart, intervening whenever he saw it.
After he graduated from law school, he joined the KGB and was sent for spy training at the Red Banner institute. He did one year of the course and was dropped from the program. For fighting.
As the tale is told, he was out on the town with a buddy and ran into a hoodlum in the subway. He managed to subdue and chase him off, but the incident could not be concealed from his trainers because he broke his arm.
He was marked by that as a hot-head and a lot of doors slammed in his face.
Vladimir Putin knows something about that inner sanctuary his human spirit so in his decision making regarding the leadership and governance of his country he appeals to a higher authority regarding decision making… He knows that the heavens rules and that the almighty raises up leaders or Kings and also brings them down in time sometimes the heavenly ruler knowing the outcome lets time play-out and in time brings forth the leader that would be raised up
He is NOT calm all the time. I watched some of his interviews and he clearly shows body language signs of discomfort and anxiousness.
It is his natural trait. Putin is calm because such is his character. Plus special training from KGB, where they taught them emotional intelligence and control.
I noticed that too about him. methinks its got to do with his training as a kgb agent. KGB is known, well, for rigorous training and mindgames it teaches its members. Putin has been in kgb lifelong. So he is a thoroughbred kgb man. Something (i imagine) like tom cruise in mi5.
Eerily, back home former PM Dr.Manmohan Singh had a similar calm demeanour. But he was a plain academic and mentally kind of a Sufi.
So I don't want to sound like a crackpot but it's likely because he has ASPD or to be more blunt he's a psychopath. Now I know what that sounds like, but give me the benefit of the doubt, he's always calm (duh), he doesn't seem to show any remorse for killing a bunch of people in the KGB, he's supposedly really smart (that could be propaganda, but it makes sense). So feel free to tell me why I'm wrong, because I think it can lead to an interesting conversation.
He is playing as wants to make Russia empire, and most of Russians like to be empire as 100 yars ago Romanov time, and also he is giving people to make a black monay corruption way, there is special relation undertable and people who has a power like it in Russia
He knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them himself.
I think he has mastered the ability to give a calm facade in the face of a tempest inside. Thanks for asking and please continue to send me your questions. Till then.
He is not particularly different from an average Russian person. And he obviously pays attention to his public appearance and takes steps to project a certain image. And also probably has people that are in charge of stuff like that.
He shows sociopathic and psychopathic traits so one might argue it is a feature of his absolute power and lack of conscience.
He knows Russia is powerful and he is right. I posted something just now that should give insight:
He’s ex KGB. He’s well educated, well informed, he can look after himself in a fisticuffs if he has to and he knows how to communicate.
I don’t know Russian but I agree with you. His body language comes across as calm and persuasive. He doesn’t seem to get animated with his aides and a quiet word seems to do the trick for him.
One little oddity I’ve noticed is that sometimes he drops his left shoulder while keeping his right one up when he seems to be feeling the stress in meetings or in certain situations.; that’s just a personal observation from sometimes watching RT and other news channels.
Total and absolute power.Who would even dare to oppose him? He was KGB does that ring a bell.
That's how a dictator acts. If someone says something or does something against him he just has them killed or he does it himself.
Politically he is secure, up to 10 years more in control.
Economic development is not great but its ok in this crisis.
He has overcome accusations of Crimea annexation, using poison on ex spies in UK, cyber attacks on UK and USA, elections influence in usa and brexit. He is very successful and hence his calm.
The Russian president and former KGB boss is a quiet man who quietly pursues his opponents through his secret agencies. Everything from interfering in US elections to intervening in the Middle East is done quietly.
He was a KGB agent so he knows how to hide emotions so Putin being so calm all the time.
He grew up on a country where secret plots,counter plots intrigues are a way of life,the successful able to hide their feelings,intentions and loyalty.He may not be calm all the time,its just that we don't know his feelings as he is expert at hiding them
The answer is simple ,,,, there is no one printing false stories about Putin ,
there is no competing party and what Putin does is rarely questioned
The press and journalism is exactly like todays American press , they write stories that help Putin , and conflicting stories are rare maybe non existent ‘
He rides his horse , has about 20 billion in his account , of course he is the king of the oligarchs , and is rarely questioned about his egregious actions and behavior …
I do not think this is a secret to the Russians , but I am positive that the American left feels the same way about Putin , but uses disinformation to hurt our president on a daily basis …
The secret resides in good scenography and some artistic talent.
It’s a mask, the one Putin chose to show to the world in order to leave exactly this impression, of a calm and strong leader.
Power, training. Putin was KGB, he isn’t some heart on his sleeve Nancy boy. This is a man who has a tremendous amount of power and enjoys it.
He’s a dictator & controls everything in Russia, & is The rump’s idol. Putin is also helping t-rump do the same thing for himself, here in America. Traitor.
I think he is an experienced and intelligent politician who has served in the KGB behind him. Probably he has undergone many trainings, trainings which allowed him to gain the ability to hide emotions. The head of one of the most powerful antiquities in the world should not be easily emotional. I also suspect that the race to power itself creates some features because it is a very tough competition.
Putin received superb training and solid experience as a KGB operative. For KGB alumni, staying calm is a freshman 101 skill.
A combination of KGB culture and stereotypes within Russian mentality concerning how a strong, confident and intelligent man should behave. Because he is not merely an elected official and as seen as a dominant king figure by his serfs, he cannot show fear, instability and lack of confidence, even when he is screaming inside. This also helps to create an aura of power and intimidation. Of course, mature and intelligent people see through that mask and understand he is as weak, fragile, afraid and prone to mistakes as any man can be given the right conditions.
- He’s a politician which means he’s an actor.
- He’s a former spymaster which also means he’s an actor
- When you can blow up the world you better learn to be calm
I don’t believe that there is any secret.Putin is a former KGB/FSB operative and is trained to be reserved and calm.
Because what you see is but a double. Compare his round puffy face to the real former KGB chief, who is supposed to be imperturbable.
Or perhaps he is fed with a happy pill.
Or he smiles thinking “what a life! Getting all the good things in life without having to work for them, while the real Putin sweats with plots and schemes and discussions with drunk generals.”
He feels he is very much in control of his future. People in control tend to be calm People who feel out of control tend to act more erratic, say conflicting things and lose their tempers They also blame others when things don’t work out in their favor.
I think it is his training. I believe he was in the KGB, and rose to be fairly high up.
Also, he is very sure of his power, and doesn’t feel the need to openly bullshit like you-know-who.
I would say that it is a combination of his natural temperment coupled with his training as a KGB agent.
Botox.
At least according to my co-worker.
He cannot show a range of emotions like a botox-less face would, even if he tried.
Like goes to like! Trump is a malevolent narcissist with sociopathic qualities.
Compare Trump@s indifference to the assassination of American troops in Afghanistan, to Vlad’s indifference !
Sociopaths are incapable of sympathy remorse and compassion! That is one reason trump hangs on so tightly to Putin’s coattails! The other reason is Monetary!
Besides which, when you have an arsenal of potent nerve poisons and a cadre of murderers to use them…what’s to worry about?
How do we know it’s “all the time”? I’m pretty sure in private, he rages about somethings and only when the cameras are on him, he shoes apparent calm.
He's very secure and confident in himself and his position. No one ever has seriously challenged him politically or in his aggressiveness, both militarily and in the way he creates subversion throughout others countries, especially those with established and burgeoning democracies. After all, Russia's sitting on the second largest nuclear arsenal in the world and vast amounts of natural resources.
I'm sure it's not a secret, it's just his demeanor. Some people are lucky enough to be born with an incredible amount of patience.
Hey, he’s the BOSS! Some say the wealthiest Man in the World. Probably the most powerful, why wouldn’t he be calm. He’s ex KGB, and he knows how His game is played.
IMO, Trump aspires to be Putin, but is a Minor League Pretender. These are my thoughts, neither is worth the dirt to fill their graves.
A combination of killing most of the people who could threaten him, and having compromising information on the few he cant kill.
It could be that he is closer to fulfilling his desire to bring back Russia to what it use to be. He has made himself leader for life. No one can take it away from him. Thanks to trump he is regaining entrance into global affairs. Putin and Xi Jinping both offered to make up for what the US use to pay to the WHO. Making Russia and China look good. He can supply Taliban with rifles then issue bounties on American soldiers. He knows trump will do nothing about it. Calm is easy for him.
Assume everyone is your enemy
never let the enemy see your distress levels
Pretty basic operational procedure for a former KGB op. I would have thought
Lots of people are calm all the time, he looks to me to be into fitness, exercising, fencing, horse riding, karate, judo, archery, and shooting, at a guess.
When they are into drugs they look old and their body english is all wrong.
You can walk down any street in England and pick out the drug users.
Well he had a lot of training in the KGB he is a judo expert likes outdoor hard exercise does not suffer fools his own man wants to be in power for ever and probably will be calm is his middle name!
He used to be a professional KGB officer very highly skilled. Calmness is a part of this. Probably the Eastern martial arts also help him to maintain self-discipline.
Last but not least, he is a real Pravoslav believer also imposing some behaviour rules.
So he stays polite even when he is quite upset.
One more detail. Once he was asked a question how he can maintain friendly personal relationship even with foreign officials showing quite hostile attitude. He said he never makes politics personal, as good personal relationship may greatly help to come to some kind of understanding even with governments not really willing to.
He is a Black Belt in Karate, Hapkido, and Jeet Kun Do.
Disciplined and calm comes natural when you reach this level of Martial Arts.
Some people are calm by nature. It may help that he kills anyone that is foolish enough to disrupt his solace.
How do you know he is. When you are all powerful in a nation that is as much a police state as Russia is then you are never openly challenged, attacked or even disagreed with so you will seem always in control.
So its not a quality of his but of the nation.
Not knowing him personally, I would have to say that his “calmness” is a personality trait of his.
Either that or he’s on dope.
One reason could be he is calm. It could be a practiced thing since, to me anyway, calm/calmness is a sign of confidence. And he was a career KGB agent during the cold war years and later. He was an outstanding agent at that climbing to the top of the chain of command or close to it. Like the rank of Colonel after starting as a private in a relatively short span.
I imagine he has been in some stressful situations quite often and it takes more to rile him up in public. He is a leader. He knows how to command and is somewhat charismatic. And now as president of Russia he has attained maximum rank. Everyone now answers to him and no one is his boss other than the population. Could be a lot like the leader in the USA in that he thinks the nation works for him instead of him working for the people.
Because he's the result of a secret KGB cybernetics program- he is approximately 87% machine.
This is why he's always publishing pictures of himself without a shirt, they did a great job on his synthetic skin and it makes him seem more human.
I don't know why Putin is so calm all the time. My guess is he,s one of those people that don't get rattled easily.
The Russian do have methods of controlling fear etc, but Vladimir Putin enjoys a position of strength, if he becomes complaceint, he leaves the door open for a competitor, so he has to be calm and calculated, and not respond with emotion.
He is a trained spy by profession and worked in the KGB.
As far as I know they learn to control their emotions.
It is very important for their job.
He has been involved in politics all his adult life and seems to have common sense and a good sense of humor. He has seen it all.
Putin’s metal was tested in the furnace of disintegration when the Soviet Union collapsed and Putin came through it tried and true, victorious and on top of the heap. After that experience every thing since probably seem like small potatoes and nothing to get overly excited about.
I don't follow the news. And how would I know the secret? Do I look like I'm related to him? So wrong person to ask.
Umm, no. Putin projects a cool, distant, and an “I don't give a shit" bored look. But for reason. Someone who doesnt care, would not share any interest other than minor issues.
And just so you know, a dictator may appear calm but its a ruse..a fake.
Putin is seeing whatever trump can muster up. ..not much!
Oh he's A totally rabid mess and everyone one else he knows.
I hope we can get past this so we can delight ourselves with morally substantial movement.we
He might be trying very hard to maintain it in order to puzzle about him and never know what his plan for the future other than his country people. It can be one strategy to deal with other countries.
Vlad was KGB. He is a cold-hearted man. In his heart he probably still is KGB. All it really takes to be calm is to be cold-hearted. The guy I bought my present residence from was cold-hearted.
He isn’t calm all the time, although he tries to give that impression. He is a schemer and a robber who has made many enemies. He is probably the richest man in the world, having plundered his nation with the aid of confederates. But holding on to those riches might be a challenge, which is why he seeks full control of the media and government.
There’s no secret. He was trained to be like this.
He’s afraid.
That is his position of safety and comfort.
Should he change it unpredictability breaks loose.
I’d be calm all the time too, if I was a supreme dictator who had no resistance to my will.
The downside is… I’d be just like Donald Trump!
He’s ex KGB they teach their agents to have expressed as little emotions as possible in order to hide what their thinking and make them less prone to manipulation.
Being a Lieutenant Colonel in the KGB, one is expected to be in charge of one’s emotions. And it looks like Putin learned how to do it.
Why do you think he is calm all the time? You would have to be WITH him all the time to assess this.
Anyone can act calm when the cameras are on them. Especially if you are essentially a dictator and control everyone around you.
Because he appointed himself dictator for life in Russia. He will never have to face off an opponent in a free election. If somebody starts to criticize him too much, all of a sudden they mysterious turn up dead.
Character, power and control! Their is nothing in sight what causes him to act without calmness. And it is his image that he shows, the real man is not to be seen ever.
What is the secret of Vladimir Putin being so calm all the time?
Discipline, self-confidence, self-esteem, and a strong goal-oriented mindset are the main reasons for his calmness. He is very proud of his country, Russia, and its heritage.
His calm was the calm before the tempest. He has developed Haltzheimer. Isit a rumour. He must have a heavy conscienty with the thousands of people death as his orders and responsability, particularly the beautiful Syria that I visited before the war. Nice peiple that wanted liberty, killed and chased en masse by his plaines. God is. Not a merchant, He doesnt pay on Saturday.
He doesn’t stay calm. His temper is legendary. Try using Google to check in things before asking spurious questions.
Anyone can be calm when he/she learns the situation in advance. He got good intelligence, so he is likely to be surprised.
I believe Putin is a very disciplined man. He's stoic..partially due to his nationality. He smiles a little,but it appears he keeps his emotions in check. By his speech or by his body language he gives no information to the kind of person he genuinely is.
Thanks for your question. Be safe. Please up vote and follow. Janice..
he looks like someone who’s got the important things on his mind and all the public business is just theatre. i think he probably looks like what real power looks like. everyone else but trump just looked anxious with a smile.
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