Let me ask you something:
When you hear the word ‘dream’, do you roll your eyes – even just a little?
You’re not alone!
To many of us ‘dreaming’ sounds lofty. Naive. The opposite of what we need.
Especially in the public sector, where realism, facts and measurable outcomes are the currency – what place does dreaming have?
But here’s a thought: imagine your career without a vision. No direction. Just duty.
That’s not realism. That’s resignation.
In this episode, I’ll talk about why so many smart, experienced and driven public sector leaders struggle to imagine what’s next for them.
And how that might be holding them back more than they think.
So if the word ‘dream’ makes you uncomfortable… stay with me!
I’ll share 3 practical ways to remove that stop sign.
Do You Think Dreaming Is A Waste Of Time?
The inspiration for this episode came to me after a conversation with a leader in the public sector. She had spent over 20 years in government, led high-stakes initiatives, and is a respected leader.
And yet, when I asked her what she wanted next, she said:
“I haven’t really made time to think about this. I haven’t let myself go there yet. It feels a bit dangerous. Frivolous even.”
And I get it.
You’ve been trained to look at data. To prioritise evidence. You’ve spent years solving big problems for society, justifying budget lines, and keeping your feet on the ground.
Dreaming? That feels like a luxury you don’t have time for. And, if you’re honest, a bit pointless.
But here’s the thing: without a vision, without some image, however fuzzy at the start, of what might be possible, how do you keep going at all?
Why Public Sector Leaders Stop Themselves From Dreaming
I’ve found that public sector leaders often feel they can’t afford to imagine a different future for themselves. Why is that?
- It feels impractical. After all, “this is the real world. Not a fairy tale.”
- They confuse dreaming with recklessness.
- They worry about opening a door they’re not ready to walk through.
- Or, most commonly, their inner critic shuts it down before it even begins.
That inner critic often sounds like:
“Who do you think you are?”
“You’re too old for this.”
“What’s the point?”
What psychologists call the ‘inner critic’ is our brain’s way of trying to keep us safe, usually using outdated scripts we learned long ago.
So what if that voice isn’t you? What if it’s an echo of everything you’ve been taught to believe about responsibility, stability and worth?
How Dreaming Actually Works And Why It’s Vital
You already know how to create a vision. You do it in your work all the time.
When developing policy, designing programmes or leading through change. When setting outcomes or planning reforms. You don’t just dive in. You ask:
- What’s the outcome we’re working towards here?
- What’s the long-term impact we want to create?
So what if you applied that same logic to your career?
What if having a vision is not naive or frivolous? What if it’s strategic?
Let’s redefine dreaming as: creating a North Star that helps you orient yourself in a changing world.
When I say ‘dream,’ I don’t mean a fantasy.
I mean imagining what could be possible, if you stopped self-censoring. If you prefer, think of it as ‘visioning’, ‘exploring scenarios’, or ‘having a play with some ideas for your future’.
It’s not about planning out every step. It’s about having a direction. Without it, you risk running in circles, in default mode.
Here are…
3 Practical Ways You Can Create Space To Dream
1. Ask yourself “why?” five times
If you think dreaming is a waste of time, ask yourself: Why do I believe this? And then again… why?
Do this five times and you’ll get to the heart of the matter. You’re likely to uncover a fear, a past wound, or a cultural message you internalised over time.
Check in with yourself:
- What is this telling me?
- Does this still belong to me?
- Do I want this to be the driver of my decisions?
2. Reconnect with your body
Most of us live in our heads. But your body holds important clues.
Maybe you notice a smile on your face and your shoulders drop when you think about mentoring emerging leaders. Or a tightness in your chest when you picture yet another year in your current role.
- When was the last time you lit up with possibility?
- What were you doing?
- How did your body feel?
In German we talk about “feeling butterflies in your stomach”. Maybe you have a saying like that in your language too?
It’s about that sensation in your body. Of expansion, of warmth, or lightness.
It matters. It’s data, too.
3. Create the right conditions for you to dream
Sometimes, imagining the future you really want requires a new environment or a different rhythm.
- Where do ideas come most easily to you: when you’re out on a walk? Journalling? Speaking out loud?
- Who do you trust to brainstorm with, without judgement?
- When was the last time you gave yourself permission to imagine without constraints? Without self-censorship?
Dreaming Doesn’t Mean You’re Flaky – It Means You’re Alive
You don’t need to imagine an entirely new life overnight. But you do need a direction.
If you’re in a job that once felt like your North Star, but now feels…flat, that’s valuable information.
Check in with yourself honestly. So you can make a conscious and intentional decision about what you want next.
Maybe your vision has changed. That’s okay. Give yourself permission to find out what it is now.
Allowing yourself to imagine what else could be possible is the FIRST step for changing into a career that feels aligned, meaningful, and sustainable to you.
Especially when you’ve spent years in roles that were driven by a sense of duty.
What’s ONE idea that keeps whispering to you but you haven’t let yourself say out loud yet?
Until next time: make space, rediscover you, and then take action.