EP206 - The #1 Trait That Makes or Breaks Your Team with Matt Doherty

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof welcomes former UNC head coach, bestselling author, and leadership coach Matt Doherty for a raw and riveting conversation about failure, identity, emotional intelligence—and what it really takes to lead at the highest level. Matt opens up about the meteoric rise and public unraveling of his coaching career—from AP Coach of the Year to an unceremonious exit at the University of North Carolina. He unpacks the crushing weight of public scrutiny, the trauma of losing his dream job, and the deeply personal journey that followed: a leadership awakening forged through pain, introspection, and radical accountability. Through his signature storytelling and unfiltered honesty, Matt reveals the brutal gap between being a great tactician and being a great leader. He shares the hard lessons he learned the hard way—why high performers often fail as leaders, how culture will always outlast strategy, and what happens when you don’t mine for the truth inside your organization. From the emotional blindspots that wrecked his staff culture to the power of 360 reviews, Matt offers a masterclass in self-awareness and organizational transformation. Together, they explore why knowing yourself is the first step to leading others, how to turn trauma into a leadership tool, and why the most dangerous thing a CEO can do is stop asking real questions. If you've ever felt the sting of failure, the weight of being in charge, or the hunger to lead with more clarity and compassion—this episode will shake you up, build you back, and remind you that rebounding isn’t just possible—it’s the whole point. Follow Matt: https://www.dohertycoaching.com/ https://www.instagram.com/coachmattdoherty/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/ https://twitter.com/DohertyMatt The Tyler Dickerhoof Show https://www.youtube.com/@impactdrivenleader https://www.instagram.com/thetylerdickerhoofshow/ Subscribe to the newsletter: https://impactdrivenleader.beehiiv.com/ Tyler is on: https://www.tylerdickerhoof.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tyler.dickerhoof.3 https://www.instagram.com/tyler_dickerhoof/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-dickerhoof-1960351b What We Discussed: 00:00 Introduction 01:17 From Notre Dame to UNC: The Journey and Fallout 04:28 How One Misstep Turned Into Public Shaming 06:33 What Coaching Basketball and Running a Business Have in Common 10:03 Why Talent Alone Won’t Save a Broken Culture 15:08 How Great Players Handle Feedback Differently 20:04 Don’t Confuse Competence With Leadership 27:44 Every Leader Needs a Truth Teller 32:14 Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor—It’s a Red Flag 38:05 Learn How to Get Lazy 40:57 The Hard Truth About High-Speed Leadership 43:59 The Best Leaders Serve—Not Score Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices