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.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/

https://twitter.com/DohertyMatt

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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

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