Quote: Leaders as Dreamers

Leaders are paid to be dreamers. In fact the higher you go in leadership, the more your work is about the future. -Hans Finzel Like most quotes there is a lot of truth to it and then there are exceptions. In essence I agree with the idea that leaders by their title are supposed to be visionary. Does it always happen-no. Some people in leadership positions are more managers than leaders. They are needed and provide an excellent service for the skills that they bring in keeping things running on a day-to-day basis.

I have to admit that I'm more of the dreamer type, envisioning a new future of some sort. Regional, resilient, a prepared public, governments working together, egos put aside, leveraging social media for the betterment of the whole. It can be lonely and frustrating when trying to communicate a "dream" to someone else who is rooted in yesterday and planted where they are today.

A few years back one of my staff actually made up a T-shirt that had on it, "Eric's Dream-Heather's Nightmare." In that case it was a regional earthquake exercise that was the idea, issue and nightmare for some.

If you are a leader take time to do a little dreaming. Dreams don't always come true, but without dreams we'd be a society and profession lacking in new ideas and a future doomed to repeat the past.