Every leader has a shadow side: the parts of ourselves we'd rather hide or deny. For many, that looks like judgment, frustration, or even the thought: "People are dumb and I hate them."

When we push these parts away, they don't disappear. They slip into our blind spots and leak out sideways, often in the form of sarcasm, criticism, or subtle disconnection. The harder we try to shut them down, the more power they gain.