“Compliance will never take you,
where commitment can go.”
~ Dondi Scumaci
As posted previously, I love that saying (what I call, a “Dondi-ism”) 🙂 by my great friend and mentor, Dondi Scumaci.
It reminds me that, as leaders and influencers, we always need to ask ourselves where our focus is and who it is on.
As Dale Carnegie taught us in his classic, How to Win Friends And Influence People, “Ultimately, people do things for THEIR reasons; not our reasons.”
So, in terms of the goal we are leading people to, is our focus on ourselves, or on them?…In other words, how does our goal align with THEIR goals; THEIR wants, THEIR needs, THEIR desires? And, with THEIR values?
When we question ourselves like this – intelligently, and with a genuine, authentic desire to build them – we’ve come a long way toward earning the commitment that Dondi wrote about.
Just my thoughts. What about yours?
Enjoy this post? Receive an update when our next post is published by entering your best email address below and clicking Get Updates.
Thank you Bob for the kind shout on a topic I am so passionate about. I continue to “collect” stories and examples of people who have learned how to create the “want to” versus rely on the “have to.”
One of my favorites is in your new book “It’s not About You,” with John David Mann regarding influence: “Pull is the substance of influence. Not push.” Love the analogy of gravity and “pull versus push.”
I often see organizations and leaders relying on the push because it’s faster and easier. For example, it’s easier to call the meeting mandatory. Instead, why not create a meeting people wouldn’t dream of missing because there is so much value? There are whole cultures of compliance that have been built on the “have to.”
If we implement out plans using the push, I think it is a bit like driving down the freeway at full speed with the emergency brake engaged. We may be getting somewhere, but we are tearing up the car!
Thank you for this post. I am looking forward to the conversation it generates! You have the world’s best commenters! 🙂
You did it again, Ms. Dondi! I LOVE that about the meetings…and about the car going full speed with the emergency brake engaged. You’re amazing. Thank you so much for being such a fantastic teacher and mentor to so, so, so many of us!
Two of my favorite mentors on one page. Thank you for your passion in this Dondi.
I love you, Amy
Hi Dondi,
You are right about Bob’s community 🙂 We love Bob and therefore we love to engage in conversation with him. Besides, every posts Bob publishes are very insightful and he makes people think…
Thank you Bob for being so AWESOME!
Regards,
Kumar
Amy: 🙂 🙂
Kumar: Wow, that’s so very kind. Thank you! I had the easy part in this one…just sharing Dondi’s wisdom!
LOVE that saying from Dondi Scumaci!!!!!! WOW it’s beautiful and true! Actually I commented on the last article as you referred to that one – but that comment is also for this article. And Dondi I agree!!!! Bob has created something unique here – a WONDERFUL community – it’s like a Mastermind group!!!! So awesome, Thank’s for that Bob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lene 🙂
Lene: Isn’t that a great “Dondi-ism”? She is truly an amazing individual, leader and mentor. And, thank YOU, Lene, for being part of our community. It is people such as YOU who make it so unique and terrific.
She truely is Bob!!!!!!! GREAT mentor!!!!! You’ve made some awesome choises in life Bob, that I’m grateful you made – and only truely GREAT persons share this for others to benefit too – thank’s for that Bob 🙂
I couldnt have said it better myself. I always think of leaders as Value Mentors. There is nothing wrong with getting people excited to come to work, to want to come to work, and to attend things such as meetings. I always try to pump my folks up by telling them that the meeting has some important information that can help them in their work, their career, and sometimes their life. We try to make our meetings genuinely fun and of course we try to add some drama in there so we can add a bit of spice into the meetings. (Good drama and engaging drama not the bad stuff). And I always get my folks to think and to use their brains to help engage them into the company rather than just being a worker bee. Give them a voice to express concerns, give them a voice to express gratitude, and of course give them a voice for new ideas. Because of this our company is in the middle of a revamping and it is because the voice or engagement our employees have had within the company to want to see it succeed.
What an encouraging and energizing group. Thank you all! I’ve learned so much from Bob’s blog and from all of you who participate here. It is an amazing forum, and Bob you are not only a fabulous mentor but a catalyst for the most positive engagements. Lene, Amy and Kumar your comments are so appreciated. Love “bumping” into you here. 🙂 Thank you for adding your energy, ideas and insights. Always valuable.
Dondi: 🙂 🙂 You’ve been a huge part of it since the beginning. Thank you!!
Robert: Leaders as Value Mentors…what an outstanding way to put it! And, it looks like you are exactly one of those!!
Another Brilliant Post Bob and Dondi
When we create the experience that is worthwhile they want to come and be a part of a meeting… Pushing and or Pulling never achieves win win outcomes… It is the dance of a two way partnership in communication and action that leads to successful outcomes and ultimately that begins with us knowing that it begins with what our clients needs and then working towards a mutual value in alignments towards desired outcomes.
Wow Carly, may I have this dance? Love it!
Amazing Post! Love both of you… Bob & Dondi:)
Carly: Thank you for always adding to the conversation!
Patricia: Thank you. Except…I love you and Dondi MORE! 😉
Every time I read anything from Dondi and Bob, I feel like I am getting my essential vitamins of Vit. D and Vit B to make me stronger and balance my life! I like to say that I do things for a LOVING rather than a LIVING! Let your Profession be your Passion and you will go far in life. Everything and everyone has value and it is up to us to discover the value that is priceless in life. Thanks for waking up my brain cells with my doze of Vitamins for the day. It also helps seeing the radiant smile of Dondi in her photo which is one of my favorite I have taken of the beautiful lady!! 🙂
Michele: Ahhhh, so YOU are the famous photographer who captured that beautiful smile of that beautiful woman. Thank you for doing so! 🙂 And, thank you for giving my dose of “Vitamin M!”
Michele and Bob, Thank you for those kind words and for being such dear friends.