Listen " 14: Great Leaders Harness Their Dark Side"
Episode Synopsis
OVERVIEW
We all have a dark side. Repressing it only creates internal pain and limits your potential as a leader. In this episode, we learn how tech leaders can understand their "negative" traits and harness them to become a more dynamic and impactful force in their organization.
Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter.
***
TAKEAWAYS
We all have a dark side, but great leaders take the time to understand and use it to their advantage.
We're taught as children that letting out negative emotions is bad. This repression compounds over time and stunts our growth as adults.
The dark side has its value. Just like the Roman leader Cicero and the entertainer Josephine Baker, we can channel it toward positive outcomes.
Become the "integrated human" requires (1) identifying, (2) embracing, (3) exploring, and (4) revealing your dark side.
We need to give our subconscious a chance to surface — otherwise, we risk career regret, lost opportunities, and creative suppression.
***
TIMESTAMPS
[2:12] Our dark side is hardwired
[3:30] The great repression (longing for play)
[5:01] The impossibility of “golden” leaders
[7:26] There’s always a hero & a villain
[8:24] 4 steps to harnessing your dark side
***
RESOURCES
Book mentioned: The Laws of Human Nature (by Robert Greene)
Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn
Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan
Check the show on YouTube
Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter
We all have a dark side. Repressing it only creates internal pain and limits your potential as a leader. In this episode, we learn how tech leaders can understand their "negative" traits and harness them to become a more dynamic and impactful force in their organization.
Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter.
***
TAKEAWAYS
We all have a dark side, but great leaders take the time to understand and use it to their advantage.
We're taught as children that letting out negative emotions is bad. This repression compounds over time and stunts our growth as adults.
The dark side has its value. Just like the Roman leader Cicero and the entertainer Josephine Baker, we can channel it toward positive outcomes.
Become the "integrated human" requires (1) identifying, (2) embracing, (3) exploring, and (4) revealing your dark side.
We need to give our subconscious a chance to surface — otherwise, we risk career regret, lost opportunities, and creative suppression.
***
TIMESTAMPS
[2:12] Our dark side is hardwired
[3:30] The great repression (longing for play)
[5:01] The impossibility of “golden” leaders
[7:26] There’s always a hero & a villain
[8:24] 4 steps to harnessing your dark side
***
RESOURCES
Book mentioned: The Laws of Human Nature (by Robert Greene)
Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn
Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan
Check the show on YouTube
Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter
More episodes of the podcast Uncage Yourself
170: My Life in 2025
15/12/2025
169: “Founders” Don’t Wait for Permission
02/12/2025
168: Watch Your Game Film
11/11/2025
167: Skepticism Isn’t Wisdom. It’s Fear.
04/11/2025
164: Futureproof Yourself
30/09/2025
163: Love Your Work. Or Pay the Price.
16/09/2025
162: It Gets Late Fast
09/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.