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

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.

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