Why businesses need a dreamer’s magic and a doer’s realism | Beth Viner | Ted Talks Daily

Intro

In this episode of Ted Talks Daily, Beth Viner explores the importance of balancing dreamers and doers in business. She emphasizes the value of both personalities in turning big possibilities into reality and building successful organizations.

Main Takeaways

The Importance of Dreamers and Doers

• Beth Viner discusses the importance of having two types of personalities in business: dreamers and doers.
• She emphasizes the value of both types in making big projects work and the need to build teams that can turn big possibilities into reality.
• Dreamers are founders and creative inventors who thrive in the fogginess of problems, while doers ensure the success of companies over time.

Bridging the Tension

• Bridging the tension between dreamers and doers is crucial for organizations to maintain growth and capture new opportunities.
• The importance of finding ways to bridge the tension and gaining buy-in, not just with words, but with tangible support, such as financial investment.
• Building a corporate mosh pit requires acknowledging and leveraging the expertise of both dreamers and doers within the organization.

Creating Alignment and Collaboration

• Dreamers should involve doers in their work, shifting the mindset from “happening to me” to “happening with me” to build a corporate mosh pit.
• Creating speed bumps along the way can help align the work of dreamers and doers and ensure a smoother collaboration.
• However, too many speed bumps can hinder progress and make it difficult to reach goals on time.

Celebrating Wins and Nurturing Longevity

• It’s important to celebrate the wins of both dreamers and doers in an organization.
• Acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of the people around you, whether they are dreamers or doers.
• Longevity should not be unusual, and nurturing longevity will be discussed in the next episode of the Ted Radio Hour from NPR.

Summary

The Importance of Dreamers and Doers

Beth Viner highlights the complementary relationship between dreamers and doers in business. Dreamers, who are the founders and creative inventors, thrive in the fogginess of problems and envision big possibilities. On the other hand, doers ensure the success of companies over time by executing tasks and turning ideas into reality. Both personalities are essential for organizations to continue building, growing, and making new things.

Bridging the Tension

To maintain growth and capture new opportunities, it is crucial to bridge the tension between dreamers and doers. This can be achieved by gaining buy-in, not just with words, but with tangible support such as financial investment. Building a corporate mosh pit involves acknowledging and leveraging the expertise of both dreamers and doers within the organization, creating a collaborative environment for innovation and success.

Creating Alignment and Collaboration

Dreamers should involve doers in their work to build a corporate mosh pit. By shifting the mindset from “happening to me” to “happening with me,” dreamers can foster collaboration and ensure the alignment of goals and efforts. Creating speed bumps along the way can help align the work of dreamers and doers, facilitating smoother collaboration. However, it is important to strike a balance and avoid too many speed bumps that hinder progress and make it difficult to reach goals on time.

Celebrating Wins and Nurturing Longevity

Recognizing and celebrating the wins of both dreamers and doers in an organization is essential for maintaining motivation and fostering a positive work environment. By acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of individuals, regardless of their roles as dreamers or doers, organizations can create a culture of appreciation and collaboration. Additionally, nurturing longevity and discussing the significance of longevity will be explored in the next episode of the Ted Radio Hour from NPR.

Conclusion

Balancing dreamers and doers is crucial for the success of businesses. By understanding the complementary relationship between these two personalities and bridging the tension, organizations can foster innovation, collaboration, and growth. Celebrating wins and nurturing longevity further contribute to a positive work environment and sustained success.