Sadness: Battling Leadership's Dark Secret

Sadness is presented as a beginning, not an end, and as the "dark secret" of leadership-an emotional weight that comes from caring more than others. The author cites historic figures like Lincoln and Churchill to illustrate that even the most effective leaders grapple with this feeling, and makes clear that the piece is not about clinical depression but about the ordinary heaviness that surfaces when responsibility mounts.

The core of the article is a list of ten concrete ways to get a grip on sadness: limit exposure to negative influences, focus on what you can control, adopt an outward-facing purpose, notice and mention what works, accept sadness as part of life, rest, walk, find a confidant or coach, and practice a single gratitude note. Each tip is framed as an action a leader can take right now to prevent the darkness from turning into anger, bitterness, or loneliness.

By treating sadness as a signal rather than a failure, leaders can keep their vision bright, avoid the trap of hopelessness, and use the emotional energy to drive better decision-making and team morale. The article ends with a call for readers to share what helps them when they feel sad, reinforcing that the conversation itself is a tool for collective resilience.