Curiosity #8 Commitment over Compliance with Dondi Scumaci

🎤 Quotable quote: "Compliance will never take you where commitment can go." – Dondi Scumaci

Dondi's words remind us that leadership is about inspiring true commitment, not just securing compliance. Her analogy of driving with the emergency brake on speaks volumes—while compliance may get results, commitment unlocks the full potential of individuals and teams.

🎁 Did you remember to download the Ted Lasso Holiday Gift Giving Guide last week? If not, just click here.

In this edition of Weekly Curiosities, meet Dondi Scumaci—Dondi stopped by the Leadership Rules podcast, and boy, did she leave us with a lot to ponder! From talking about the “gifts” we’re all born with to dropping wisdom about commitment over compliance. Let’s dig into her biggest nuggets of wisdom—and, of course, how they can help us all Lead it Like Lasso.

Dondi Scumaci left us energized. Here are some of the questions we discussed (highly recommend clicking on the podcast above and hearing her take):

• What’s one gift or strength you haven’t fully developed yet, and what’s stopping you from unwrapping it?
• Are you leading in a way that inspires commitment, or are you just getting compliance from your team? How can you tell the difference?
• Who’s on your “personal advisory board,” and how do they help you grow? If you don’t have one, who might you invite to join?
• What limiting belief have you been carrying, and how can you replace it with a truth that empowers you?
• What’s one way you can help someone on your team nurture their unique gifts this week?

Take five minutes today to answer Dondi’s question: “What am I believing that isn’t true?” (For extra credit: Write down one limiting belief and turn it into a positive truth. Then, as Ted would say, believe.)

More leadership musings

🍪 Biscuits with the Boss icebreaker: What’s one gift you have that you haven’t “unwrapped” yet?

According to Dondi, each of us is born “fully loaded with gifts,” but here’s the kicker: batteries are not included. Translation? It’s up to us to take what we’ve got, nurture it, and turn it into something extraordinary.

Dondi’s biggest point? Leaders don’t just unwrap their own gifts—they help others do the same. You want to build a great team? Focus on helping every person reach their full potential. That’s not just leadership; that’s the Lasso Way.

🏅Whistle. Whistle. Roy's tough love advice: Don’t “phantom” your gifts.

Sitting on the sidelines because you think you’re not good enough? That’s rubbish. You’re good enough. You’re great enough. Now go make some magic happen.

📚 Beard’s Collection: Recommended Reads

📖 Scumaci, Dondi. Career Moves: Take Charge of Your Training Career. ASTD Press, 2011.

In this practical guide, Scumaci helps readers identify their gifts, leverage their strengths, and create intentional career paths. Through relatable examples and actionable strategies, she demonstrates how to turn untapped potential into a successful and authentic career. FWIW Marnie took two pages of notes on action items.

📖 Stanier, Michael Bungay. The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. Box of Crayons Press, 2016.

Stanier offers practical tools to transform your leadership by asking better questions. Packed with actionable tips, this book shows how great leaders help others discover and nurture their gifts through curiosity and intentional conversations. Yep, let's stay curious ;).

📖 Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books, 2006.

Dweck introduces the transformative concept of a growth mindset, emphasizing the power of learning and resilience in leadership and personal development. This book is essential for anyone looking to unlock potential and inspire others. Remember you are a leader everywhere - great book for parents, educators and business leaders.

This week in Here - There - Every F'ing where

• Still having all the Ted Lasso feels from our time at Thundergong. Our friend Marc Vibbert at The Richmond Way podcast invited podcasters to share their experiences at the event. This time went by in a snap! Check out the full episode here.

📦 Nate’s suggestion box: Do you know someone who crushes it at leadership? Let us know! We're booking guests for our podcast in 2025 and would love to chat with them :)

How do you make a suggestion? Just hit reply to this email 

Bring a friend to the Weekly Curiosities! :) Bonus points if you forward this to your Diamond Dogs. Let’s learn, grow and lead together!