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The Best Advice For Any Manager

By alik levin

June 15th, 2008 | Influence Without Authority, Leadership


Are you a manager? Looking for the ways to make your business better? Looking for the ways to grow? Want to improve both employees and customer satisfaction?

The best advice I’ve got from The Dream Manager book by Matthew Kelly – ask your employees “what’s their dream?”. Have you tried that?

by Cia de Foto

Ask your employees

What are you asking your employees? “Are you on track?” “Are you going to hit that goal?” ”How do you plan to cover that deficit?”, etc. These are all good questions. But there is more. Just ask “what’s your dream?”. As simple as that. “What’s your personal dream?”,  “What’s your career dream?”. What drives you every morning to get out of bed and come to work?

“You’ll be amazed at what they’ll tell us. Nobody knows the business like those who work in the trenches of it every day. Ask your employees. They know more than you think.” - Matthew Kelly, the author of The Dream Manager book.


I have managers too

Now let’s switch roles. How often you are asked by your managers that question “What’s your dream?”. I mean sincerely, with genuine desire to really know? I do not expect neither your nor my manager to be a shrink, but who would like to be just a tool to hit the goal. I would not. I’d rather like to be a passionate team member with shared goals, pardon, *dreams*.

The temptation is to convince yourself that your employees’ dreams are not relevant to your business. That is only true of your employees are not relevant to your business – and if that were true, why would your employ them?- Matthew Kelly, the author of The Dream Manager book.

What’s your dream?



11 comments ↓

#1 Marelisa on 06.15.08 at 4:20 pm

What a great approach, taking the dreams of your employees into consideration! Most companies certainly don’t do that.

#2 Chris on 06.15.08 at 6:24 pm

This works totally because as a manager it shows that you care. We constantly ask our employees about their goals and dreams. In fact we even ask prospective employee during the interview process.

#3 Vered on 06.15.08 at 7:48 pm

I agree with Marelisa that most companies and employers couldn’t care less.

I agree with you, Alik, that they SHOULD.

And I’m impressed with you, Chris, that you do!

#4 Shilpan | successsoul.com on 06.15.08 at 8:06 pm

Alik -

Interesting perspective on the professional front. Our life is a web of relations - personal, professional, social - I call these three spokes of the web. We are at the center getting energy from each of these spokes. I always ask my employees what they want to achieve in next 12 months and then next 5 years. I guess it is another way of asking, “What is your dream?” Is it?

Shilpan

#5 alik levin on 06.15.08 at 9:11 pm

We are just finishing our fiscal year and we are in the process of wrap up ad planning. I am going to use this approach allover - both with my managers and reports. I’ll let you know how it went in case I am not gonna get fired ;)

#6 Joel Falconer on 06.16.08 at 3:56 am

Chris, unfortunately, many are educated by “job interview experts” that employers who ask about your goals and dreams are fishing to see if you’ll be a good long-term hire - ie, a woman who says she wants to have children is not “viable for the future.” Ridiculous that some employers do this, but have you found a way to ask without setting off warning bells?

Alik - another great post! Enjoyed it.

#7 Jimmy May, Aspiring Geek on 06.16.08 at 10:42 am

For the first time in my life, I work for a team in which my managers ask me questions such as these. I’ve had the lip service regarding concerns about my future (and some jobs even skip that pretense). Yet management at my current gig couldn’t be more sincere. It frankly takes some getting used to–but I’m learning to like it!

#8 alik levin on 06.16.08 at 7:43 pm

Joel,

Thanks for nice words! There is distinction between hiring and motivating those who are on job already. Anyway, I’d prefer feeding mother who passionate to change the world vs smart guy who comes to work to show off he just knows the stuff. Passion and desire is key.

Jimmy,
Happy to hear THAT!

#9 Time Management - Do You Control Your Life Or Life Controls You? — Practice This on 06.29.08 at 9:21 am

[...] created your life architecture and design. You have a dream to fulfill for each life project. What’s [...]

#10 mike on 01.21.09 at 5:10 pm

ditto. I share a similar story but with a big twist!

http://kacalapy.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/how-to-be-the-best-manager-ever/

#11 Consultants, Beware Of Procrastinators, Disengaged, And Distracters! — Practice This on 02.05.09 at 8:23 am

[...] High-energy-high-focus manager. Oh… the dream manager. The guy who is passionate about what you do and help you focus to achieve real results. Keep [...]

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