Leadership lessons from pop culture
The BIG Takeaway™
newsletter
Aug. 8, 2022

​What leaders can learn from TV, sports and movies this week

Hello current and aspiring leaders! 

It has been hot outside. As Eugene Jerome said in "Biloxi Blues," "Tarzan couldn't take this kind of hot." 

So what better thing to do to beat the heat than to binge watch shows and watch a bunch of movies and sports. 
  • Speaking of sports, this week I am going to focus on one of the greatest sports announcers ever, Vin Scully, who died last week at the age of 94. For 67 years he was the voice of the Dodgers as well as a broadcaster for golf, football and Major League Baseball.
  • Scully could make watching someone paint a house or make potato salad engaging. He will be missed dearly. 
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Let's go.

Rich Trombetta
@trombettarich
Aug. 8, 2022
This week's BIG Takeaway:
There are more ways to tell a story than talking
Image: Getty Images
The sounds (and power) of silence
The greatest announcer might be best remembered for what he DIDN'T say

The context: Vin Scully is considered one of the greatest sports broadcasters ever; he died last week at the age of 94.

  • He was the voice of the baseball's Dodgers for an amazing 67 years, starting the gig in 1950 when he was only 23 years old.

  • Known as a master storyteller, he was at the mic in 1988 for one of the most memorable events in the history of Major League Baseball - Kirk Gibson's "impossible" home run in Game 1 of the World Series.

  • When Gibson hit the home run Scully remained SILENT for about a minute as he let the video and sound of the crowd going wild tell the story.

    You can watch the epic moment here. NOTE: Go to 6:45 to see the home run and "listen" to Scully's call.

    IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: You might find clips of this online that have been edited to remove Scully's silence. Blasphemy! That is like when a radio station doesn't play Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Made" immediately after "Heartbreaker." 

What we can learn: Storytelling doesn't have to involve speaking.
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  • Telling stories has become all the rage in companies with research noting that a well crafted story can be the most powerful way to engage an audience.

  • Something that has been lost in this storytelling crazy is that talking is only one way to convey your message; video, pictures and audio can all enhance - and possibly even replace - your spoken words.

  • Scully realized that the crowd's reaction, combined with the pandemonium on the field, was better than anything he could possibly say; he would have become a distraction.  Of course, Scully then lands his "improbable/impossible" line which is legendary.

    SIDE NOTE: Is there anything better than Gibson's arm pump which has been reenacted thousands of times by middle-aged softball players on weekends? I am guilty as charged.

My take: Scully tells the story knowing HE IS NOT THE STORY.

  • Instead of inserting himself into history, he let history play out on its own. What could he have possibly added to the moment besides what everyone was seeing and hearing on TV? 
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  • Scully always talked about the importance of letting viewers and listeners hear and "feel" the roar of the crowd and that the game was for them, not him.

  • ​​Put your audience at the center of the process and think what will truly engage and be best for them. Ask yourself two questions: 1) "Am I getting in the way?" and 2) "What can I do besides talking to truly best tell this story for my audience?"
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The BIG Takeaway:
There are more ways to tell a story than talking
Let's put this into action
Image: Pexels
👉​What you can do on your own: 
  • ONE: Try "dumpster fire" thinking. I once went to a presentation and the person's goal was to describe what was happened in his department. He showed a picture of a dumpster fire. Boom. Instant connection and understanding.
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  • TWO: Talk over a video clip to experience how pointless this is AND to recognize that no one wants to hear what you have to say; you aren't needed. If Scully was broadcasting "Star Wars" I doubt he would have been talking when Luke learns Dart Vader is his dad. Just a guess.

  • THREE: Read this story about eight famous photos. Remember, a picture still says a thousand words.
📢​ What you can do with others:
  • USE OUR DISCUSSON GUIDES: Work with your team or other colleagues to dig deeper into this week's topic. Instead of a book club I like to think of this as our "movie-or-TV club." 
    ​This week: Gather together and discuss how your team can implement the lessons in this newsletter. Try "dumpster fire" thinking.​
Did you know we can design and deliver custom classes or programs based on topics we write about?

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Before we end here's our weekly grab bag of quick links
🐶 Smile: Dogs are the best.

😁Laugh: Watch this clip from comedian Brian Regan.
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🌷 Relax...and laugh! NSFW. Classic video that I plan to watch EVERY day.
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That's all for now

​Thanks for reading and please remember:
  • We archive our stories and put them here for the world to read so feel free to have a look.
  • If you have any ideas or feedback Contact me with your thoughts.
  • We can create custom newsletters​ and training sessions on the topics we write about.
Rich Trombetta
​@trombettarich

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