Dreamers

A confession:  I am oft accused of being a dreamer.  It's no doubt related to my strong belief that work and the workplace can and should be stimulating, rewarding and, all things considered, healthy.  A place where you can express yourself, where you can innovate.  A place where you can learn and teach.  A place you enjoy, possibly one that is even fun.  A place where you can truly make a difference.  Call me naive, which many do, but it is possible.  These places exist!  I've seen them up close and personal!  And over the years, enlightened managers have even engaged us to help them create this type of workplace in their organization.  We know it's possible, because we've seen the amazing transformation that occurs -- the enthusiasm and energy that are unleashed, the productivity that is gained -- when certain elegant steps are taken to create an organization built to run.

It all starts with a dream:  A compelling aspiration, a cherished ambition.  Big thinking uninhibited by barriers, politics and history.  A goal that causes excitement.  In our parlance, The Brass Ring.

Where are those dreamers?  Those managers, some might call them leaders, who know that their organization needs remodeling, retooling to become something special?  Have the economic events of the last few years scared them into hiding?  Are they hunkered down behind their desks waiting all too patiently for this economic climate to blow over?  Worse, have they stopped dreaming, accepting instead a compromised reality?

I say it's time to dream again.

Possibly like this guy.   An engineer believes that a version of Star Trek's U.S.S. Enterprise can be created in 30 years at a cost of roughly $1 trillion.  Regardless of whether you are a fan of the series or think $1 trillion is excessive for an vehicle without an integrated iPhone connection and one that doesn't park itself, the idea of building a spacecraft capable of exploring the universe is compelling, is it not?  Save for warp drive, much of the technology required to build such a vessel apparently already exists.  The remainder will require invention during the design and construction phases.  But don't let that deter you.  Velcro, Teflon, even Tang were products of our quest to land on the moon in the 1960s.  That was over 40 years ago.  Think of what we're now capable of and what might follow some of the Star Trek-inspired inventions already part of our reality.

The same can be said for the workplace.  Is it not the time to explore what steps can be taken to create a workplace that stimulates, excites and inspires people to perform their jobs brilliantly?  Is now not the time to develop an organization that operates with creativity, energy and high productivity?  Is now not the time to captivate the aspirations and ambitions of your people?  Is now not the time to travel by star ship rather than by bus (thanks, Jim Collins)? 

Now is the time.  Dump the bus.  Build a star ship.  It won't take 30 years or anywhere close to $1 trillion.  And we won't endanger the entire universe by attempting to create warp drive.

It is time to dream again.