Leadership for Dreamers: Rediscovering the Power of Dreaming in Executive Coaching
Subash CV, MCC
Executive Leadership Coach - ICF Coaching Education & Certification - Mentor Coach
“All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together.” – Jack Kerouac.
As humans, we were once defined by our capacity to dream, to imagine possibilities beyond the ordinary. Yet, somewhere along the way, we transitioned from human?beings?to human?doings. We became caught up in endless tasks and to-do lists, trading our dreams for productivity, often at the cost of losing the essence of our humanity. The art of dreaming, of aspiring for something greater than ourselves, started to fade, replaced by the relentless grind of everyday life. In many cases, it’s as if we’ve stopped dreaming altogether.
Yet, the beauty of being human lies in the ability to dream big—not just daydreams or fleeting fantasies but dreams that inspire transformation and have the power to change the world. And that’s where leadership comes in. Leadership is not merely about steering others or managing systems; it is the art of daring to dream and inspiring others to dream with you. It’s about igniting the fire of possibility in people's hearts and guiding them toward a vision that matters, one aligned with a greater purpose.
The Choice to Dream
At the heart of leadership is choice. We can choose to settle for the ordinary, to move through life as human?doings, checking boxes and accomplishing tasks without deeper meaning. Or we can choose to dream, to envision a future that doesn't yet exist and then take deliberate steps to make it a reality.
But more than the choice to dream is needed. We also need to do the work—to manifest those dreams. This balance between dreaming and doing is critical. Without action, dreams remain just that—ethereal, intangible. But without dreaming, the action becomes hollow, devoid of purpose and vision.
Dreaming and Executive Coaching
This is where executive coaching plays a transformative role. At its core, executive coaching is for the dreamers—the "dream beings" Kerouac speaks of. It is for those who recognize that leadership is more than just managing tasks; it is about dreaming for a larger cause. Coaching creates the space for leaders to reconnect with their dreams, align their work with their purpose, and manifest their visions into reality.
Executive coaching isn’t just about developing IQ or even EQ. It goes beyond these to touch on?spiritual intelligence(SQ)—the part of us that dreams for something bigger than personal success. SQ is the compass that points us toward a higher calling, where our dreams become infused with meaning, and our leadership takes on a transformative quality. The most impactful leaders are those who develop their intellectual and emotional intelligence and nurture their ability to dream for a greater cause.
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Leadership is for Dreamers
The truth is that leadership is a choice. And leadership is for dreamers. The greatest leaders in history—those who left lasting legacies—were those who dared to dream big. They weren’t simply effective managers or brilliant strategists but visionaries who believed in something larger than themselves. They dreamt of a better future and inspired others to dream alongside them.
In executive coaching, this vision of leadership becomes a lived reality. Coaches help leaders not just manage their teams or hit targets but to dream again. To reconnect with the visionary within and bring that vision into the world. They remind us that we are not just?doing—we are?beings; at our core, we are?dream beings.
The future of leadership lies in our capacity to dream and inspire others to do the same. As leaders and coaches, the invitation is clear: dream big, dream for a larger cause, and remember that it is our dreams that make us human. Leadership, after all, is for those who dare to dream.
Executive Leadership Coaching is the bridge that helps turn those dreams into lasting, meaningful impact.
Executive Coach specializing in active listening and high performance
2 个月Hi Subash, Awesome piece. Truly it is the vision and the dream that sets the great leaders from the "managers" apart. The Choice to Dream section beautifully captures the essence of leadership and the delicate balance between dreaming and doing. It resonates with the coaching philosophy of unlocking a greater version of the person. Sharing our vision with others and involving them in our journey distinguishes transformative leaders from aspiring leaders.
Executive Leadership Coach - ICF Coaching Education & Certification - Mentor Coach
2 个月Someone recently said,?"The dream is dead!"?Hearing that made me feel a deep sadness. After all, if the dream is gone, isn’t part of the person gone too? But then, I stumbled upon this quote in?The Economic Times:?"All human beings are also dream beings..."?It reignited a spark of hope. The magic was in the second part:?"Dreaming ties all mankind together." That’s when I realized we aren’t just human beings—we are #DivineBeings, connected through our dreams. As my Master says, it’s the journey from?I to We to He—#I2We2He. And my humble take - It's finding ourselves at the confluence of #IQ2EQ2SQ. Let's continue dreaming.... of a larger cause, aligned with our life purpose. "Dreaming ties all mankind together."
I help Businesses Achieve Sustainable Growth | Consulting, Exec. Development & Coaching | 45+ Years | CEO @ S4E | Building M.E., AP & Sth Asia | Best-selling Author, Speaker & Awarded Leader
2 个月Well said! Dreams fuel creativity, drive ambition, and provide meaning in our lives.
People Strategy | DEI Champion | PhD -Organisation Psychology, IIT Hyderabad | ICF Coach
2 个月Thanks for this write-up, Subash. The power of dreaming and doing lies in turning vision into action, and your insights capture that perfectly.
"Dreaming ties all mankind" wow!!