How to Become a Better Leader by Telling Better Stories

How to Become a Better Leader by Telling Better Stories

Published August 27th, 2019 in Blog

Dondi Scumaci: How to Be a Better Leader by Telling Better Stories

 

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Are You Ready to Go Bigger? Maybe Even Fly?

Published June 9th, 2018 in Blog, Fortunato Files, Leadership, Mentoring
If you have been following the Fortunato Files, you won’t be surprised I am learning a brand new thing. (As always, it turns out to be less about dressage and more about living and leading.)
 
I smelled trouble when my trainer, Erin Bell, recently appeared carrying a lunge line. We only use the line when we are about to do something big and scary. (Incidentally, the bigger it is, the more excited Erin gets. On this day she was literally beaming.)
 
Erin loves breakthroughs and knows how to create them. Sometimes she’ll even ‘sneak up’ on you with a break through, by breaking BIG things into small steps. Before realizing it, you are actually doing it!
 
We started with the normal warm up, get organized routines. Fortunato relaxed and went to work. I did too. What used to be difficult and frustrating, now comes more naturally and quickly. (It’s wonderful to think about how far we have come.)
 
Then it happened. Erin walked over with the line. “Are you ready to go bigger?” 
 
I gulped and vowed in my heart to be brave. 
 
“Yes. I am ready.” 
 
Then the lesson arrived.
 
“If you want to go bigger and get to the canter, you need to sit back, relax and get out of Fortunato’s way. Your tension constricts his movement. It blocks his energy.”
 
I will never forget the surge of my first canter. It was exhilarating, like flying! PURE JOY!
 
It was also counter intuitive. To go bigger, I needed to work less and relax more. This has me thinking about life and leadership. 
  • How is fear and tension constricting you or your team?
  • How are you putting yourself out there (willing to be the student)? 
  • What are you clutching too tightly? 
  • As leaders, how do we manufacture the circumstances (and confidence) for others to take risks, be brave and lift off? 
  • How are we setting people up for greater success? 
  • How do we break BIG achievements into a series of small, confidence-building wins?
  • What ‘lines’ can we use to create exhilarating experiences? 

The Crow Hop

Published April 27th, 2018 in Fortunato Files, Leadership

That was a definite crow hop!

Fortunato did not actually buck, but clearly let me know he could (if he wanted to).

We came to an abrupt (although staggering) halt.

In all of our work together, he had never misbehaved this way, and it scared me. My first temptation was to jump off and find the pesky fly that had caused this drama.

Then the lesson arrived.

My instructor said, “You have an honest horse, and you are being unfair.”

Wait, what?

It wasn’t a fly.

“You are applying pressure with your legs and hands, asking him to respond. He is responding. He’s answering the question. He’s trying to please you, but you are not releasing the pressure. For him, that feels unfair, and he just let you know (because he is honest).”

Once again, Fortunato slips into the role of teacher and Mentor.  There’s a leadership lesson here.

As leaders, when we apply pressure, do we recognize and acknowledge the efforts and attempts to respond? 

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When Needs Become Expectations

Published April 24th, 2018 in Blog, Leadership, Mentoring

It’s fascinating to see the next generations stepping into the workplace and marketplace. While we tend to focus on the differences between the generations. I am finding so much common ground. We are more alike than we may realize.

As I study the trends, I understand the new generations want to collaborate, make a meaningful difference and grow. They want a trusting relationship with management and seek mentors willing to guide. 

The interesting thing is, people of ALL ages want those things. Perhaps in the past, employees didn’t feel they could ask for or expect these things from their places of work. 

Maybe we are seeing a shift from wanting to expecting. That is changing the conversation. 

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The Fortunato Files: Develop Your Leadership Core

Published June 10th, 2017 in Blog, Fortunato Files

With a goal of getting organized and moving forward, this horse will drop me to the right and slide to the left. We wiggle and drift side to side. 

This is when I hear my instructor’s voice in my head. “Find your structure! No matter what he does, you are immovable. Your structure supports him – it invites him to stand up and get organized.” 

At this point she also adds, “Remember, his weaknesses reflect yours. He is your mirror.” 

Gulp. 

What a brilliant lesson for living and leading. Simply put, it means developing the strength of your own structure – building your leadership core. Only then can you respond to what is moving around (or beneath) you, without falling into it or drifting off course. 

 

 

 

 

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Introducing a New Way of Mentoring

Published May 8th, 2017 in Blog

The new mentoring tool is here! For more information, click here. Mentoring In-a-Box Information

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Little & Big Things

Published May 8th, 2017 in Blog, Leadership, Motivation

I love crossing things off my ‘to-do’ list. At that very second (I am told) there is a feels-so-satisfying dopamine hit to the brain. It feels so good, it gets addicting. We can spend our days checking the list, crossing things off – searching for that temporary reward, without touching things that really matter. 

It’s quite possible to check lots of boxes and miss the point entirely.

I’m retraining my brain to shift from a focus on deadlines to one of purpose. I want to get to the ‘why’ behind the ‘what.’ That’s where pure satisfaction comes from anyway.

Life shouldn’t be a ‘check-the-box exercise.

From here on out, my ‘to-do’ list won’t be a simple inventory of tasks. I am experimenting with a menu of move-the-dial purpose statements. 

Little things or big things, I want to make sure my energy is flowing to the important things. 

 

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Managing Your Presence

Published May 1st, 2015 in Fortunato Files

Fortunato will try things with me that he wouldn’t dream of trying with his Trainer, Erin Bell. He finds the holes (in my confidence and capability) and exploits them. In that way, he is a great teacher. He shows me where the holes are, so I can fill them with…presence. 

It’s fascinating to watch someone with presence. This is not about size, position, title, force, aggression or intimidation. It’s about the way they enter and read the situation, hold and carry themselves through the rough spots and how they manage the energy and literally change the conversation. Here’s an example: 

Yesterday as Erin began working with Fortunato, he wanted to make it a contest of wills. He was pushing forward  and trying to bully through her. (He wanted to establish himself as the leader in this lesson.)

Instead of competing with him and allowing the anxiety to accelerate, she changed the energy in the moment. She shifted from moving to waiting – from tension to calmness – from talking to listening.

She created a pause.

As we waited, I literally watched the conversation change. Fortunato went from telling to asking. His energy shifted from rigid to relaxed. There was an emotional shift too – from anxiety to trust. From there we moved forward in a really productive way. 

Presence invites people (and as it turns out, equines) to step into the arena and play effectively – to engage, reach, trust and enjoy the process. 

 

 

Fortunato with his Trainer, Erin Bell

Fortunato with his Trainer, Erin Bell

Category: Fortunato Files
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Ready to ReLaunch Yourself?

Published March 9th, 2015 in Blog, News

Ready to ReLaunch Yourself? Check out this interview with Joel Boggess and Dr. Pei Kang, 176 Take Control of Your Career Success: with Dondi Scumaci.

http://relaunchshow.com/career-success-dondi-scumaci/

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The Fortunato Files: Lessons in Leadership From the Ground Up

Published November 26th, 2014 in Blog, Fortunato Files

Fortunato-Close-1

The inspiration for The Fortunato Files is a gorgeous rescue who is teaching me more about trust, partnership, courage and leadership than I ever imagined possible. He’s a Spanish Line Back Dun (very smart and a little sarcastic). Fortunato has a BIG personality. He also has tricks. (A few I’ve taught him, but most are his idea.)

According to my trainer, I am “out horsed.” Lessons in Leadership from the Ground Up is a peek into the pages of my personal diary as we make this journey together. I hope you will join us along the way.

 

Fortunato’s story changed the day he arrived at Meadow Haven Horse Rescue. Dondi Scumaci, Inc. is proud to be a sponsor. I invite you to learn more about the remarkable work they do saving horses.

Meadow Haven Logo

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