Chapter 31

The pattern here is crystal clear: wounded authority becomes dangerous authority. When someone in power carries unhealed pain, they spread that pain to everyone under their command. Ahab's missing leg throbs with every step, but it's his emotional wound that really drives him to terrorize his crew. He can't sleep, so nobody sleeps. He can't heal, so nobody heals. His obsession becomes everyone's burden. This pattern operates through emotional contagion and power dynamics. Ahab's physical clicking on deck is just the surface—what really keeps the crew awake is the tension of living under unstable leadership. When Stubb approaches respectfully with a reasonable request, Ahab explodes because the request threatens his sense of control. Pain makes people grasp for power. Power lets them spread their pain. It's a vicious cycle that turns one person's wound into an entire organization's dysfunction. You see this everywhere today. The supervisor who got passed over for promotion and now micromanages every detail. The charge nurse whose divorce makes her snap at CNAs over minor issues. The parent whose childhood trauma makes them alternate between neglect and control. The manager whose health problems make them lash out unpredictably. In each case, personal pain plus positional power equals a toxic environment for everyone else. The clicking of Ahab's leg is like the slamming doors, the passive-aggressive emails, the sudden policy changes that keep everyone on edge. When you recognize this pattern, you have choices. First, understand it's not about you—their pain is driving their behavior. Second, document everything because wounded authority is unpredictable authority. Third, find allies among your peers; you're all hearing the same clicking overhead. Fourth, set boundaries where you can—Stubb learned not to approach Ahab directly again. Most importantly, if you're in authority yourself, check your own wounds. Are you spreading your sleepless nights to others? The pattern breaks when someone in power chooses to heal rather than wound. When you can name the pattern, predict where it leads, and navigate it successfully—that's amplified intelligence.