Should Leaders Be A Thinker Or A Dreamer?
SNAPS DAY 320
11/16/20222 min read
When faced with a problem, a thinker systematically combines quantitative and qualitative information to develop a business case that can resolve any problem. On top of that, s/he can then combine the value of both tangible and intangible assets to create a strategic plan - complete with business imperatives, governance, risks & mitigants, success measures and execution roadmap for an organization.
When faced with a problem, a dreamer……… dreams.
There are no boundaries, no ifs & buts, there is not even “out of the box” thinking because the concept of a box can be totally different. There is nothing impossible for a dreamer when solving problems. S/he can view a problem from a multiverse of perspectives. For example, its not just about a glass being half full or half empty. A dreamer can put golf balls or ribbons to replace the vacant space of the glass instead of just air. A dreamer can also say that the problem is incorrect, incomplete or non-existent.
So what do you think leaders need to be… a thinker or a dreamer?
*About the photo
In 2008, news of insurgency in the southern part of the country was on international headlines. The Security Officer of potential clients prohibit their executives to travel to the southern region to personally see the center and meet the abundant talent because of safety risk and risk of their insurance getting void due to State Department warning among others. For the locals, we know the location of this isolated news is at least a 24-hour car and boat ride up to the border of the city and you need to pass through several police and military camps. Personally, I have been traveling to that region regularly since 1994 due to my role in the automotive industry prior to shifting to BPO in 2005.
The leadership Team dreamt of the following: What if we can get the new US president to visit our center to prove its safe. What if we can cover the insurance of these executives during their travel duration to the region so they don’t have to worry if they accidentally cut their finger. What if we price it lower than our Asia headquarters for all clients for the first year of operations. What if we invite seasoned BPO leaders whose families are originally from that region to go back home and with Metro Manila compensation.
Well, it is impossible to invite the US president but the boss of one of my classmate’s from my MBA is the highest ranking officer representing the US president and she is known to love the southern region. Ten months after this dream was made, the head count in the center was 2,099. Fast forward to 2022, all the major BPO have centers in the southern region.
This is my pomelo tree in my backyard with its first fruits. The southern region is known to have the sweetest pomelo and durian.
