Czaro Strategic Communications

Leaders – managers and supervisors – are the key to an organization’s success or failure. Good managers produce positive results and foster an environment of cooperation where employees thrive. Bad managers contribute to high employee turnover resulting in lower morale and decreased client loyalty.

Managing people is hard work. It takes time, focus and constant learning.

Two years ago, I discovered a book by Matthew Kelly called “The Dream Manager.” The book not only opened my eyes, but it proved to be a practical and efficient management model.

The leaders of the book’s fictional company are struggling with low morale and high turnover. What they discover is that higher salary and a corner office doesn’t motivate people as much as accomplishing their personal dreams.

I’ll summarize the book by saying that as a leader, the temptation is to convince yourself that your employees’ dreams aren’t relevant to your business. That’s only true if your employees aren’t relevant to your business – and if that were true, why would you employ them? If you can genuinely convince your staff that you have their best interests at heart, then you’ll create a spirit of teamwork and loyalty.

I read the book on a Friday night and re-read it the next day. I bought five copies and gave one to each member of my team (with a personalized note).

I discussed the book with each person individually instead of in a group setting, because the book is about achieving personal dreams – not departmental. Through that process, I learned what motivated each member of the team and I discovered each person’s career aspirations. Every one had a different dream as well as a different motivator.

The biggest takeaway was one member of the team didn’t have any dreams – rather she hadn’t found hers yet. Another person had big dreams but lacked confidence – he needed (and wanted) frequent praise. A third person knew exactly where she wanted to go – she just needed my help plotting the course.

Performance skyrocketed when each member had a dream to shoot for.

Matthew Kelly said it best, “Dreams are invisible, but powerful. You cannot see them, but they keep everything going.”

What’s your dream?