I was reading a book about the top common traits that great leaders had and immediately noticed No. 4 trait which was "pragmatism". I looked over the dictionary and it defined pragmatic as "practical". I remember observing two people whom both I respected and displayed this kind of characteristic, both had a practical approach, both had simple solutions to problems that you come out of the conversation saying "That was so simple, why didn't I think of that?" Although both made things simple, I noticed that they had different results that's why I decided to call one "rich boss" because he would get great results and the other "poor boss"... well because he would get not so great results or results that looked good for the meantime but would get back at him later. I noticed that my rich boss was so practical, everything seemed black and white to him because he always decided with the lenses of his principles and convictions while my poor boss would always try to make ends meet and simply come with a conclusion where everyone was happy. Later on I see my rich boss has moved on because his convictions clearly defined most of his decisions leaving no gray area or loop holes while my poor boss would be dealing with the same problem (different face) because he was trying to be practical that led to a compromise which left things pretty much relative and undefined. I realized that my rich boss was not pragmatic but prudent which the dictionary defines as "exercising sound judgement in practical matters". My rich boss achieved better results because he wasn't trying to be practical but he was exercising sound judgement (his convictions) while my poor boss was simply being practical and tried to come up with solutions where everyone can be happy (compromise) and later on cutting his very own two legs that he stood on. (figuratively).
"you who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding"
Proverbs 8:5
As I returned to the book, my resolve in making disciples and raising leaders was fortified because I wanted to see more leaders who are prudent than pragmatic, wise than practical, full of conviction instead of compromise. (and what a better way to start than with ourselves bwahaha, patay tayo dyan!!)
