Inspiring Great Leadership for Saints | An Interview with Rodger Dean Duncan

Rodger Dean Duncan has been advisor to United States presidential cabinet officers in two administrations and to top business leaders in multiple industries. He’s author of several books including the award-winning, bestselling CHANGE-friendly LEADERSHIP, and co-author of Leadership for Saints. He also writes a regular leadership column for Forbes.com, a platform that reaches about 75 million readers each month. A descendant of 19th-century Baptist evangelists and a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he has served as bishop (three times), stake president, high councilor, and stake mission president. Today he is patriarch of the Liberty Missouri Stake and a sealer in the Kansas City Missouri Temple. In the early 1980s he served on the advisory council that first recommended that “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” be added as subtitle to The Book of Mormon. He is a father of four and grandfather to twelve. Highlights 04:05 How Duncan came to coauthor the book, Leadership for Saints, with Ed J. Pinegar 07:14 Much book content came from training meetings produced as a stake president and articles he wrote. 09:25 His conversion story: At the lockers after a lesson on the “Mormon trekkers”, a cute high-school classmate asked, “Would you like to know more?” 11:30 Techniques and models of leadership from impactful leader-mentors: A Waco, Texas bishop told him, “This morning, you failed the Lord…”, blessing his entire life. 14:55 Reproving with sharpness means with clarity, not harshness. 15:52 Train leaders and future leaders whenever you can. 17:49 Sources of Duncan’s passion for studying leadership include serving in student government and working as a political, business, and investigative journalist. 18:35 Young editor, Jim Lehrer, taught him to look at the gap between what a leader aspires to and what is accomplished. 19:41 Jim Lehrer also taught effective listening as an investigative reporter: “Count to five silently.” This leads to elaboration, new directions, and psychological space for self discovery. 23:52 He worked as a consultant to cabinet officers in two White House administrations, a laboratory for both effective and dysfunctional leadership behavior. 24:35 Paths at Purdue: After earning a PhD in Organizational Behavior at Purdue, a young man who heard him talk at BYU decided to follow his path at Purdue: his name? David A. Bednar. 25:49 Premortal memories: Experts may unknowingly teach gospel principles: premortal memories can translate into mortal teachings. 27:56 Councils: Therefore, now what? In the early 80s, he served on an advisory council that reported to the First Presidency. Their roll-up-your sleeves work sessions included George and Lenore Romney, Gordon Jump, Gordon B. Hinckley, Neal L. Maxwell, Bruce R. McConkie, Boyd K. Packer, and others. For example, one thing that came out of these included the recommendation to add a subtitle to the Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ). At the end of these varied discussions, Boyd K. Packer would simply say, “Therefore, now what?” to invite the council to seek what course of action they should take.