Roberta Matuson* reminds employers that those coming into work for them every day are individuals with their own hopes and dreams.
Who could forget Martin Luther King, Jr’s I Have A Dream speech?
Yet every day, we forget that employees have dreams as well.
It’s been a year since I originally posted this article. Given that a lot has changed (and a lot has not), I thought it was worth sharing this reminder with you again.
Here are just a few of the dreams that employees everywhere are having.
A better life
Who doesn’t dream of having a better life? Yet as I look at the world of work from the other side, I see that for many this dream has become a nightmare.
Demanding bosses, 24/7 scheduling and little care for the human side of business has resulted in a life that few would describe as better.
To be paid what they are worth
Organisations are using the wrong metrics when it comes to pay.
They are looking at what they are currently paying people rather than what people are currently worth.
Pay people based on the value they contribute to the organisation, even if this means adjusting salaries upwards or downwards annually.
A boss that doesn’t micro-manage
In my executive coaching practice, micro-management is one of the biggest complaints I hear from my clients.
Ironically, my clients are often the biggest offenders.
It would be a dream come true for many if those in management roles would allow the people they hire to do their jobs with little interference.
To enjoy time outside of work
I did something very strange on a recent weekend. I didn’t do any work.
Guess what? Life as I knew it got a heck of a lot better. I gave my mind some much needed time off and focused on having fun.
Sadly, many workers don’t feel they have the luxury of completely ignoring work and enjoying themselves when they leave the workplace.
Their dreams of having a balanced life feel out of reach.
Interesting work
No one dreams of landing a boring job, yet often that’s exactly what happens.
I’ve worked some really boring jobs in my lifetime, yet some great managers made these jobs a lot of fun.
Think about what you can do to add some joy back into the workplace, so your employees can once again dream.
Respect
Employees everywhere dream of being respected, yet there appears to be a shortage of respect.
That’s the only reason I can think of as to why you wouldn’t give respect to the people that work for you.
Here’s to dreaming of a better workplace for all.
*Roberta Matuson is President of Matuson Consulting which helps Fortune 500 companies and high growth businesses create exceptional workplaces leading to extraordinary results. She can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared at matusonconsulting.com
