52 Bks/Bk 6: The Dream Manager

I've read many Leadership books in the past and am a forever friend of Covey, but it's been awhile since I've delved into management, other than really pragmatic "how to" stuff, most generally related to academics. I was reading The Post American World when we made another library run and picked up a pile of books we'd ordered. Among them, The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly. Since the aforementioned book is taking me some time to digest I decided to pick up The Dream Manager as a quick diversion.

The book is parable about how one company took a disengaged work force and created an interested, vivacious, dedicated and incredibly profitable company, full-up of people realizing their dreams.

"What really set people apart? People are unique in that they have the ability
too imagine a more abundant future, to hope for that future. This is the
process of proactive dreaming...in many ways we are our dreams. But people
stop dreaming because they get caught up in the hustle and bustle of
surviving. And once we stop dreaming, we start to lead lives of quiet
desperation, and little by little the passion and energy begin to disappear
from our lives."

The book is about how to access our own dreams, how to facilitate others in
the realization of their dreams and how to "become the best me I can be." But it's more than just self-actualization, it's about connection and community in that we need to seek out Dream Managers as well as be Dream Managers. Good stuff.

The slim volume and quick read (I read in a couple of hours) is worth re-reading periodically. It contains many of the same truths that other leadership training materials do, with enough of a twist to make it worth purchasing, giving away as gifts and taking to heart. Understanding principals of leadership doesn't make us anything, it's living out the principals that causes us to grow and transform. I re-realized in reading this that my job as Dream Manager needs to manifest itself more often in our home. With that in mind, KB and I are off to grab a cuppa and, little does she know, to put into practice some of the principals in this slim but well worth reading little book.

I forgot to add: hop on over to Robin's blog and learn about all sorts of lists/challenges/ genres. Her weekly posts rock! http://www.read52booksin52weeks.com/