Your Work Friends | Fresh Insights on the Now and Next of Work The Ego Equation: How CEO Dan Springer Balances Leadership Success
What makes great leaders different—and how do you measure it?
In this episode, we sit down with former DocuSign CEO Dan Springer to unpack the Ego Equation: (Skills ÷ Ego) ^ Work = Success. Dan shares leadership lessons from decades in tech, including how ego almost derailed his career and what changed after a layoff turned into a leadership awakening.
Listen for:
- The Ego Equation and how to assess your leadership effectiveness
- How Dan’s leadership style evolved from ego-first to impact-driven
- Why using “we” instead of “I” boosts credibility and career growth
- A fresh approach to performance reviews that actually motivates
- Signs your ego might be sabotaging your leadership success
- The mindset shift that helped Dan lead through IPOs and layoffs
Whether you're a new manager or seasoned exec, this episode delivers real talk and actionable strategies to lead with humility, clarity, and purpose.
Join us as we break down Dan's ego insights into strategies you can use right now—because leadership is chaotic enough without having to figure it all out alone!
Episode Highlights
⏰ 3:45 The Ego Equation: Dan's brilliant formula for measuring your leadership effectiveness and why a score of 16 is actually pretty damn good
⏰ 9:30 Leadership Origin Story: How Dan transformed from self-described "prodigious ego" guy to discovering the power of putting the organization first
⏰ 14:20 The Layoff That Changed Everything: The shocking moment when laid-off employees checked in on HIM that completely transformed Dan's leadership philosophy
⏰ 19:45 We Not Me: Why saying "we" instead of "I" gives you unlimited bragging rights (and actually works better for your career)
⏰ 23:10 Performance Reviews Reimagined: The counterintuitive approach Dan used at Responsys that flipped traditional performance management on its head
About Dan Springer:
Dan Springer is the CEO of Iron Clad and former CEO of DocuSign and a seasoned tech leader with decades of experience scaling some of the biggest names in SaaS. Before DocuSign, he was Chairman and CEO of Responsys, which he successfully led to a $1.6 billion acquisition by Oracle. He’s also held leadership roles at Modem Media, Telleo, NextCard, and began his career at McKinsey. He’s led billion-dollar exits, built high-growth teams, and knows first hand how ego can make—or break—great leadership.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.
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