Recognize the Tremendous Capacity of Humans & Nurture It

Rulon McKay joins with me on this episode to talk about the power of listening and change management. Rulon expands upon the power listening by discussing a week-long course he had on this characteristic of servant leadership and by highlighting a story about one of his first dates with his wife and the way she displayed true listening. Rulon also sheds light on what some would consider the "dark art" of change management by talking about the need for leaders to be dissatisfied with the current state in order to welcome new and innovative ideas. Rulon gives us some great perspective on recognizing people, illustrating some ways we can do this while also empowering them to show greater trust in them. Rulon compares servant leadership to parenting; reminding us that we should want people to surpass us and it is our role to help them become more competent than us. We should look at the individuals around us and ask ourselves what they need and what it is that qualifies them just enough to get more opportunities and responsibility. Rulon also displays a natural tendency to want to keep learning that helps him work to get even better while reminding us that we need to be focused on the future and the people that will take over our organizations after us. 

Rulon McKay is a Senior Consultant with PeopleCore, a firm based in Pennsylvania. He spent the bulk of his career with Shell Oil Company as a Human Resource Manager. He has a Masters in Human Resources Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development. Rulon has trained and coached thousands of leaders over the courses of his career--from front line supervisors to Senior Executives. He also served as a member of leadership teams and, for two years, as the Chairman of the Contra Costa County Workforce development board in California. He and his wife Martha are the parents of five children and 11 grandchildren.