Leadership Currency with Dr. Doug McKinley

Doug McKinley, Psy.D.
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Leadership is about who you are as well as what you do. If you are interested in learning more about yourself and how to lead, follow, and connect with those you work with, tune into this podcast hosted by Psychologist and Master Certified Coach, Doug McKinley. He addresses topics such as self-awareness, emotional agility, workplace cultures, diversity and inclusion.

  1. FEB 9

    The 7 Expectations that Leaders Need to Let Go

    Every leader carries expectations they rarely question. In this episode, Dr. McKinley exposes seven common expectations that quietly undermine leadership when left unchallenged. Drawing from psychology and timeless wisdom, he explores how unrealistic demands erode trust and resilience and how releasing them restores clarity and influence. Healthy leadership starts with telling the truth about how people actually behave. Listen in to hear if any of these expectations may be limiting your leadership. To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    27 min

  2. FEB 2

    BONUS EPISODE- Still Becoming

    Still Becoming is a no-polish leadership conversation for people tired of pretending they’ve arrived. Two psychologists trade the wisdom their clients found most transformative. This mini-series podcast shares honest stories and practical insight on identity, work, joy, and resilience for leaders learning to adapt without losing themselves.  Watch the episode on Youtube-  | www.youtube.com/@StillBecoming-e3z To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    33 min

  3. JAN 12

    From Accountant to Entrepreneur

    In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur Mike Harris for a candid conversation about what it really takes to start, build, and sell companies. We explore not only practical wisdom on investing in businesses, but also the often overlooked work of developing people along the way. Mike brings a simple yet rich perspective shaped by real experience, offering insight that applies to both business growth and human growth. To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    33 min

  4. 12/29/2025

    One Word

    Every year, our family practices a simple but meaningful tradition. Each of us chooses a single word to guide the year ahead. Not as a resolution, but as a lens. A word to pay attention to, to live with, and to let shape us over time. Today, I am joined by my wife, Jana, our son Seth, and daughter Megan. Together, we look back on the past twelve months and reflect on how these words played out in real life. Not theory. Not polish. Just honest stories of growth, tension, and becoming. To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    33 min

  5. 11/03/2025

    The Currency of Friendships

    Leadership was never meant to be a solo pursuit. We talk often about courage, clarity, and competence, but rarely about the friendships that make those possible. In this episode, Doug unveils the idea of relational currency: the value exchanged between people who know and trust each other. Drawing from Tom Rath’s work on Vital Friends and identity-based leadership framework, he explores why friendship is more than emotional support; it’s the infrastructure of resilience and influence. This is a reminder that the most sustainable leaders invest not just in performance, but in people who help them remember who they are when the title is not enough. Update: This is our final episode of 2025. We’re taking some time to step back, listen, and rethink how to serve you even better next year. See you in 2026, renewed and ready.   To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    23 min

  6. 10/27/2025

    Agility: Bend So You Don’t Break

    In this final episode of The Resiliency Quest series, the mic remains in the hands of guest host Adam Mock, who turns the focus toward the fifth and final trailhead, Agility, as he interviews Dr. McKinley, the author of the book that inspired the series. Agility is more than a leadership skill, it’s a survival trait for the uncertain, complex world we’re all navigating. In this candid conversation, Dr. McKinley unpacks what it means to stay grounded while everything around you shifts. Together, they explore how resilient leaders develop “a mind like water”: fluid, responsive, and calm under pressure. If you’ve ever been knocked off course by uncertainty, change, or internal chaos, this trailhead offers a way back to solid ground.

    44 min

  7. 10/20/2025

    Protect Your Energy: The Boundaries Trailhead

    We’re nearing the summit in The Resiliency Quest podcast series. This week guest host Adam Mock continues his conversation with Dr. Doug McKinley—this time exploring one of the most misunderstood dimensions of resilient leadership: Boundaries. Boundaries are often mistaken for walls, but they’re actually bridges to freedom. In leadership, if you’re always available, you’re never fully present. Dr. McKinley shares how burnout isn’t caused by working too hard—it’s caused by carrying what was never yours to begin with. When leaders fail to draw clear lines around their time, energy, and responsibility, they slowly lose clarity about who they are and what they stand for. In this conversation, Adam and Doug dive into the uncomfortable truth about people-pleasing, the courage it takes to say “no” without guilt, and why protecting your space is actually a gift to others—not a selfish act. If you’ve ever felt resentful, over committed, or like you’re slowly disappearing beneath everyone else’s needs, this trailhead might be your turning point. To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    37 min

  8. 10/13/2025

    No One Climbs Alone: The Connection Trailhead

    In this episode of The Resiliency Quest podcast series, guest host Adam Mock continues his discussion with Dr. Doug McKinley, diving into the next trailhead on the journey toward resilient leadership: Connection. At first glance, connection might seem like a soft skill—but in reality, it’s the backbone of sustainable leadership. Leaders often find themselves isolated at the top, praised for independence but starving for authentic human connection. Dr. McKinley reminds us that resiliency isn’t built in a vacuum. It grows in community, in honest conversations, in spaces where people feel seen and safe enough to be real. Doug and Adam talk about what happens when leaders trade performance for presence, and how vulnerability isn’t a liability—it’s a leadership advantage. They explore the shift from surface-level interaction to soul-level trust, and the quiet power of being known without needing to impress. If you’ve ever felt the ache of relational drift or the pressure to keep up a front, this conversation offers a refreshing alternative. Because in the end, the leaders who go the distance aren’t the ones who muscle through alone—they’re the ones who allow others to walk alongside them. To Order Doug's Books: The Resiliency Quest,Mad About Us  Visit Doug's Website: https://www.dougmckinley.com/  Receive a Free Leadership Resource: Leadership Guide

    33 min
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About

Leadership is about who you are as well as what you do. If you are interested in learning more about yourself and how to lead, follow, and connect with those you work with, tune into this podcast hosted by Psychologist and Master Certified Coach, Doug McKinley. He addresses topics such as self-awareness, emotional agility, workplace cultures, diversity and inclusion.

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