Have a Dreamer? How to recognize the DREAM in the worker
Everyone has heard of Tim Tebow, correct? If we posed the question how they have heard of him it would be a bag of mixed reviews or opinions. Some people would say it is because of his strong religious beliefs, his college football days at Florida, his athletic gifts while playing for the Denver Broncos (who forgets that pass that beat the Steelers), or maybe even recently his ambition to attempt to play professional baseball in the New York Met minor league farm system. In the end we either sit on one side of the fence or the other, this is a publicity stunt or he is a dreamer. What if we just fail to recognize the dream in the worker?
In our day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year life we cross paths with a lot of individuals. Some are content, unexcitable and have buried their gifts and dreams while some have strong convictions, passions and gifts and dreams. In employment, how can you use the 2nd group, the Tim Tebow’s, the dreamers that fall into your path or workforce to enhance growth of your organization without creating envy or animosity?
Well first, you must recognize the dream in the worker. Have ever sat down and had a discussion with someone who works, and I mean truly works. This individual can be blue collar, white collar, heck some have no collar. They sit in meetings and scribble or write things down. During conversation they may drift off, possibly scratch there head, or look like they are someone where else. Although this individual will clearly hear everything that is being said, the vernacular just is not on the top of the priority because their mind is complicated and complex like the movie Inception. Do you know someone that drifts? Do you know someone that writes during meetings? Do you know someone who is a deep thinker? If you do, take a different look into how they really think, dream, and work.
Here are 5 characteristics that will set this individual apart:
- Intellectual- Sit down and have a discussion with this individual or employee. This individual can have dialogue on every subject because they have experienced more than they share. They keep an open mind and have the ability to communicate acceptance of all.
- Jobs- Take a day off? Slow down? It may be based off how many tax returns they file 1099’s. The individual may frequently drift, scratch there head, or scribble, however this individual is constantly thinking will have the ability to multi-task and complete various duties without supervision or reminder.
- Service- The individual will have a great compassion towards others. This might even interfere with relationships and the job “process”. Broken or filled, they can connect with others and overlook attitudes and lifestyles to provide service to others like no other.
- Motivating- Feel down? Need energized? Uplifted? This employee will provide this plus much more to those who he engages with. They will motivate and encourage others to pursue ambitions and goals. They will develop and support those they supervise to reach further and farther. Push, Push, Push, go, go, go….they truly believe that it is better to train and employee and have them leave, then to not train them and have them stay.
- Vision- They do not need google maps or GPS to find their destination. Like hanging pictures on the wall, organizing an event or decorating an office area, this individual will see the picture, possibilities and way before 90% of us. So don’t ask them how they got there. They won’t be able to explain it. This individual will just have the unique ability to skip steps to get to the goal that you seek where the rest would be stuck in a traffic jam.
To quote Tim Tebow best when asked about him being a dreamer, “It is not about being a dreamer. It is about having a dream and being a worker.” Many employees have this individual sitting right next to them, however they just fail to extract the qualities that lie in the dream. As an employee, we will have the option of either placing time, dedication or resources into this individual to develop and intertwine them into your operation/business or watch them work while you DREAM.
~Jesse Swoyer
