Real Time Development Strategies

Dr. McKenna and Dr. Yost Featured in SPU Response Magazine

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:05:06 +0000

SPU’s Response Magazine featured an article about Dr. Rob McKenna and Dr. Paul Yost, the co-founders of Real Time Development Strategies,and the story behind their work in leadership development over the last decade.

The article: Tools for Leadership; SPU program teaches leadership with character, features interesting facts about how Dr. McKenna and Dr. Yost met, quotes alumni from the program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Seattle Pacific University, and from other leaders in their lives who have supported their work. Read the article to learn more about the leadership development work of Dr. Rob McKenna and Dr. Paul Yost and their vision for changing the way we develop and invest in the leaders of tomorrow.

http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/2010-spring/features/tools-leaders.asp

Recently published books Dying to Lead; Sacrificial Leadership in a Self Centered World by Dr. Rob McKenna, and Real Time Leadership Development by Dr. Paul Yost were highlighted in the response:

http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/2010-spring/features/readings-on-leadership.asp

Dominican Update…

rmckenna — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:10:30 +0000

Here’s an update on the work I’m doing with the team from HL2.

“

The third day of our trip to Dominican Republic brought another set of amazing experiences for our team. Half of us baked bread to be shipped to Haiti and the other half built a second concrete floor for a family in the same neighborhood as the first, known as Pueblo Nuevo. In this case, the floor was built for a family with many children, at least one of whom attends the Children of the Nations (COTN) school there. The mother was known in the school because of her faithfulness and contributions to the school and surrounding community. While we were there working on the floor, we learned that the mom had passed away recently of Hepatitis. The father and remaining nine children were so grateful for the new concrete floor. We, on the other hand, were so grateful for the master contractor (Manuel) who provided all the technical expertise we needed to make sure the floor was exactly as it should be. To sleep on a dirt floor in the Dominican culture is very symbolic of poverty and your economic level in society. More specifically, sleeping on the ground often leads to worms that burrow into the skin of the kids. We saw evidence of the scars caused by these worms on many of the kids we got to know. To have a cement floor not only is a step up from severe poverty, it is also a really important step in helping the overall hygiene of this family.

We also saw some really interesting gender dynamics during the day. Because both the men and women on our team were involved in the mixing of the cement, shoveling sand and dirt, and carrying cement, we caused quite a stir in the neighborhood. Apparently in the Dominican culture it’s not considering appropriate for women to do that kind of manual labor. While that didn’t keep any of us from engaging in the work, we all found the differences in cultures to be profoundly interesting. Not to mention the fact that we got lots of stares from the local men as they watched the women on our team get right into the heart of the manual labor. The greatest part of the experience outside of the reality of the much needed floor was the chance to once again hang out in the heart of a Dominican community, playing with the kids, and getting a chance to build relationships and make connections with so many people here.

Those of us in charge of baking bread had a very different, yet equally rewarding day. We showed up to the cocina (kitchen) of the school to spend the day baking 2800 loaves (let’s call them rolls) of bread to send over the Haitian border to the relief camps. While our contributions paid for all the supplies necessary for the 2800, we were disappointed to only get through 400. We didn’t like leaving the team at the school (of which all had amazing stories themselves) with all the work to finish our objective over the course of the next couple of days. Who would have known that all that mixing, kneading, rising, baking and packaging would take so long. Not to downplay the 400 rolls we were able to make it was, once again, the connections and relationships throughout the day that made it most meaningful. As we baked, word spread around the school and the village that we were there. Peering through the bared windows and doors were crowds of kids wanting a chance to interact, to play with us and our cameras, to bridge the language barrier or just to simply have us hold their hands. While we waited for bread to rise and/or cool, we had plenty of opportunity to play with these delightful kids with impromptu games of tag or (as you see in the photos) fun photo sessions that they got such a kick out of. As we were told over and over again in planning for this trip, they just want us to “be” there with them rather than focus on “doing” something for them. It’s a culture based on relationships that trumps getting the job done and something we took a lesson from.

Once again, we are so thankful to have the opportunity to do this work as a team and this shared experience has been profound. More to come…”

For more, go to

http://www.facebook.com/bill.irish?ref=nf#!/HL2seattle?ref=mf

Lessons from the Dominican Republic continued.

rmckenna — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:41:09 +0000

If you haven’t been following the events on facebook, here’s the link.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/HL2seattle?ref=mf

So far the lessons for me are many, but here’s a sampling.

It’s not about giving up everything you have, but about being aware of what you think you need, and thinking first of what you have. Haitian kids who had lost limbs and had very little food or water and still were smiling, taught me that lesson.
Dominicans have a different way of thinking about time. It is more important to take the time to have a conversation with you on the street than be on time to my next meeting. Relationship matters here. That said, that may contribute to some of the economic issues the country faces.
The last 500 years have taken this country through many peaks and valleys and impacts how Dominicans perceive their world.
Strong-connected leadership matters everywhere. The concept of differentiation and sacrifice matter for the leaders I’ve worked with here too.
Leaders must set up boundaries and take the heat for it.
Ph.D. programs in psychology should still require a second language like they used to.
I miss my wife and boys so much on this trip.
The dislike and mutual fear between Haitians and Dominicans runs deep, but this tragedy brought them closer. The language barrier plays a huge role in that. Because they don’t understand each other, it makes trust very difficult.
The children in the Bateys (Haitian villages with many refugees) were the poorest of the poor, and they broke me in half. I fell in love with them. These kids have nothing, nothing, nothing, by western standards..and they were still joyful.
When we entered villages, I was approached by certain kids right away. It made me wonder whether the same big 5 characteristics show up here too. Ironically, the two boys that my wife and I will be sponsoring were both completely introverted (3 and 6 years old).
The people here are thankful when they have good work. The idea of doing what I love first and foremost is not the first thing you think about when jobs are scarce. Proving yourself a trustworthy worker comes first. If you drop the ball, you lose your job.

Lessons about myself.

My heart runs deep for children.
I am more than committed than ever to developing leaders in the toughest of times, meaningful times.
Leadership is soooooo important. Our work will continue in urgency.
I must continue to be vulnerable, and take risks for the sake of those I am accountable for.
I am so thankful for my job, my wife, my students, my children, my life….for you.

More later. I will see you all soon. Lead on. I apologize for the typos….

Rob McKenna

A lesson from Haitian kids

rmckenna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:30:20 +0000

Felt convicted yesterday about how much I focus on what I need as opposed to startingwith what I have. Haitian kids who have lost limbs and still were laughing and smiling taught me that.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=714520862#!/album.php?aid=381920&id=91923395047&ref=mf

For more

Leadership Live!!!!

rmckenna — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:00:41 +0000

Once a year, my students come to class ready and get an assignment that’s a little odd. They get the next 4 hours to find a leader to interview about the job of being a leader, and they have to come up with something that will be helpful to the leader. It’s always a pretty powerful experience, because they do this cold, and they do it quick. It’s amazing how quickly this leaders share there challenges and excitements in a matter of moments. Here are some of the stories.

An ad agency, a humanitarian organization and a leadership consultant…

rmckenna — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:29:07 +0000

at happens when you put together a humanitarian organization that serves the needs of the children of the world, a dynamic advertising agency, and a leadership development consulting firm? You get the trip I leave for right now. Leaving for the Dominican Republic tonight with a team from the Seattle based ad agency… known as HL2 to serve with Children of Nations. This is one of the coolest things I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in as it’s a team effort between HL2, Children of Nations, and Real Time Development Strategies to respond to the need in the DR, and in the process, help this team be intentional about learning from the experience. See you soon.
http://www.cotni.org/
www.hl2.com
www.realtimedevelopmentstrategies.com

What questions changed the trajectory of your life?

rmckenna — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:23:55 +0000

I’ve been fortunate to have people around me who are willing to ask me the tough questions. What’s interesting is that the questions fit into one of at least three categories. 1) They were questions that I can answer in highsight, but really couldn’t begin answer when I was asked, 2) they were were funny to me, or 3) the qeustions are remember all involve major transitions in my life, and crossroads where I knew that discovering the answer might cause some pretty deep and significant change to occur in my life. For me, the list includes:

Are you still committed to working here?

Are you going to eat that?

Who has your back?

What would you die for?

Do you believe that you are worthy of being loved?

Who are you investing in?

What would you do next if you weren’t afraid?

What are you hiding?

Will you take this woman?

Are you going to make a decision or just stand there?

Do you know how fast you were going?

Will this be on the test?

I must admit, I’m not proud of all these questions or that someone had to ask them, but they stand out in my mind. The fact is that the questions were important? They may have told me something about what I knew, who I was, who I wasn’t, what I needed to be, how I could get clear, or why I was doing what I was doing. But, the fact is that the questions were important. Do you have questions you’ve been asked that stand out in your mind? If so, what are they?

Meaningful Conversations, Not Meaningless Ones

rmckenna — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:18:08 +0000

What are the most meaningful conversations you are having right now? What conversations are happening in your life that after which you are changed in small or large ways, forever? I’m not sure what they look like for you, but for me, these types of conversations are sometimes brief and sometimes take place over time. In many cases they come out of nowhere, or from people that I least expected to make an impact on me. These conversations are real. They are conversations where I’m called out and asked to stop being an imposter in my own skin. These conversations are often intentional. They point me toward being or doing something different in my life. These conversations are encouraging and challenging in the same moment. They remind me that I have value and that I’m in process. Finally, these conversations are real time. They are connected to the things I’m doing and being today.

Along with you and others, I want to create spaces where leaders of all kinds, from parents to presidents, can get real about the things that are pushing them to the edge, the things that excite them, and get feedback from trusted mentors, peers, and from those following them about where they are going and why. Those who are contributing to this blog are leaders, emerging leaders, parents, and even volunteer leaders who are interested in changing the world of work and leadership by having the conversations you used to have over coffee or a drink, but now rarely have the time for.

This is not only a place to get the conversations going for you, it’s also a place to remind yourself that there are hundreds of emerging leaders who need you to start the conversation for them, or at least be willing to help them know where to start.

So, if you are a leader or emerging leader of some kind, let’s start the conversation…

Dying to Lead?

rmckenna — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:13:26 +0000

The reason I named my book Dying to Lead was a very simple one. We want leaders who are dying to lead (who want the job) and also willing to die to the possibility of leading (willing to let it go). We certainly don’t want leaders who want the job too badly. Those are dangerous types becaus they are defined by what they do, what they achieve, often driven by a blind sense of confidence in their own ability, and often out of touch with all that’s at stake for themselves and for their followers. But, on some level, they have want the job. We are asking for tough things from leaders. You need to want the job, and in the same moment, be willing to let it go if it’s time for someone else to lead. What a tough job leaders have.

Where do you fall on that sprectrum? Do you have a healthy respect for the stakes involved in leading? Do you have too much confidence in your own ability, or just the right amount of reluctance and motivation to take on the job of leading? You have to want it, and be wiling to let it go.

Are you a leader?

rmckenna — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:02:45 +0000

In the book Dying to Lead, Dr. McKenna describes leadership in three ways.

1. As a choice – on some level, you chose to be a leader or someone told you were going to lead and you accepted.

2. As responsibility for the work of others. You are responsible for the work of others on some level.

3. As responsibility for the development of others. You are responsible for the development of others on some level.

In short, a leader is someone who is accountable for the work and development of someone else. This means that if you are a parent, or a manager, you are accountable and leading.

Are you a leader? If so, why? If not, why not?