A powerful way to show your values? Share the dream you’ve been hiding.

I help leaders and managers figure out how to talk so people want to listen.

But, if you want to instantly build a deeper connection with your team, you might be overlooking the simplest trick: the impossible dream you keep hidden.

One that has nothing to do with your company's mission statement.

🎶 My secret: If I could have any job I'm utterly unqualified for, I’d be a rock drummer.

👩‍🦳 A full-on, touring-the-world, grooving-like-Sheila E and Neil Peart badass. I'd have the same wild hair, but I'd also have a really great singing voice.

When I share that ridiculous, unattainable fantasy, two things happen:

People smile. Then they share their impossible dreams.

🥮 The finance manager who wants to be a pastry chef.

🚖 The IT director who dreams of restoring vintage cars.

🏄‍♀️ The professor who wants to be a world-class surfer.

Everyone has one. And as a leader, sharing yours is a subtle, yet powerful act.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿

Here’s why it works:

❤️ 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥.

Leaders often feel pressure to be polished and predictable. This makes you feel distant. When you admit you value something unexpected, you stop being a job function and start being a human being. Your team learns what energizes you, revealing personal values.

🧞‍♀️𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘝𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺

When you share a personal fantasy, you signal that it's safe for others to share too. You give your team permission to be themselves. They realize they don't have to leave the other versions of themselves at the door. This unlocks creativity by deepening psychological safety.

😃 𝘐𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦

"What do you do?" is a boring question.

Imagine asking: "If you could do any job you're totally unqualified for, what would it be?"

This question gets straight to the core of their energy and passion.

And this information is gold. It helps you understand what motivates them, allowing you to connect their current work to their personal drivers.

💡𝘐𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦

If you're great at your job, people can sometimes put you on a pedestal. Sharing that you have a road not taken reminds everyone that expertise doesn't mean you've stopped being a whole person. It makes you the relatable, human leader everyone wants to follow.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗝𝗼𝗯

Share it as a genuine piece of who you are.

Because when you do, your team can see how you think and why they can trust you.

🥁 Rock on!