There are a lot of different leadership styles in today’s world, and the abundance of options can be confusing for businesswomen. You may have stumbled across the phrase “pragmatic leader” and thought, should I be one? The last couple of years have been unpredictable with curve balls being thrown left, right, and center. Is pragmatic leadership a solution to an unpredictable world?

In this article, we will take a deep dive into what pragmatic leadership actually is, give examples and advantages of this leadership style, and ultimately provide you with a roadmap on how to be a pragmatic leader.

What is Pragmatic Leadership

Pragmatic leadership can be broken into two words. According to Wordhippo, they mean:

Pragmatic

Adjective

Practical, concerned with making decisions and actions that are useful in practice, not just theory.

Leadership

Noun

The capacity of someone to lead others

A pragmatic leader is someone who can make practical decisions to “get things done.” Pragmatic leaders are not usually prone to overthinking or abstract thinking. Most importantly, pragmatic leaders have a bias for action and this is their most defining characteristic.

Visionary VS Pragmatic Leadership

a woman looking into the distance and wondering whether she should be a visionary or pragmatic leader

You may wonder what is the difference between a visionary and a pragmatic leader. A visionary leader is someone who has a vision or shared goal, and all their decisions and actions are based on that vision. Visionary leaders are very future-focused, and they communicate that vision to foster community, collaboration, and teamwork.

Visionary leaders are forward-thinking, excellent communicators, and creative. This style of leadership can be important when you want to reach big goals or inspire people internally and externally – like at a business pitch.

While visionary and pragmatic leadership are seemingly on opposite sides of the spectrum, they share some essential leadership characteristics, like excellent communication, and are both results-focused.

The key difference between these leadership styles is that pragmatic leaders are goal-focused, hands-on, and prioritize action above all else whereas visionary leaders are big-picture thinkers, creative, and inspirational.

There is no one size fits all approach to leadership and each style has its strong points. But if you are trying to grow a business, a pragmatic approach might be the more practical option.

Recommended Reading: The Top Characteristics of Ambitious Women Uncovered

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Pragmatic Leader

If you want to use this leadership style, there are some skills you can develop. A pragmatic leader thinks about what needs to be done and how to do it. Here are some of the essential traits and skills of pragmatic leaders.

Authenticity

Self-awareness is a top skill for any leader. A pragmatic leader is aware of their strengths and weaknesses and welcomes openness and vulnerability. Improvement and authenticity both stem from self-awareness, so cultivate this skill to grow as a leader.

Journaling and peer reviews can be a great way to become more aware of your strengths, understand your strong points, and pinpoint where you need to improve.

Confidence

a confident and pragmatic woman who is leaning over her desk and explaining something to a work colleague.

Confidence is not arrogance. Rather, confidence is the belief that you can win, learn, and try again. Confidence helps leaders to be pragmatic and quickly make decisions that inspire action and confidence in others too.

If you lack confidence, try confidence-building exercises or positive affirmations to develop this crucial skill.

Problem-solving Skills

Pragmatic leaders are problem solvers and when faced with a dilemma, they can come up with a solution. These types of leaders are effective in a crisis as they can swiftly make decisions and think of an alternative plan.

A great way to become a better problem solver is to simply give yourself time to sit with a problem, and the space to try new approaches.

Self Starters

Pragmatic leaders usually have proactive personalities and can easily spot problems and can internally find the drive or motivation to tackle them.

You can take a more proactive approach by constantly surveying your team or business for problems, and weak spots, and thinking about how you can improve. Having a growth mindset is very important for female entrepreneurs and businesswomen who want to reach new heights.

Resourceful

A pragmatic leader works with the knowledge they possess, the skills they have, and the capabilities of their team or organizations to make effective plans.

You can be more resourceful by running audits on your current capabilities and your team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Realistic

A pragmatic leader is grounded in reality, and in a world full of bias, overstimulation, and false news – this is an effective stance to take.

Educate yourself on current affairs, trends, and startup mistakes as they can help you develop a more accurate view of the world and your business.

Adaptiveness

Adaptiveness is another key trait for any leader, especially pragmatic leaders. These types of leaders need to be able to quickly pivot and adopt a different approach to reach their goals or objectives. In a world that is changing at lightning speed, embracing change and adapting is a top skill for any leader.

If you want to be more adaptive, try to make small new changes to your plan, strategy, or day. Making small changes can give you the courage to make bigger changes and feel more comfortable to adapt when necessary.

Why Pragmatic Leadership Matters in 2024

In 2024, leaders need to be adaptive, realistic, and solution-orientated. And a pragmatic approach might just be your answer to navigate increasingly turbulent times.

Technological Disruptions

The rapid rise of AI has unsettled our world – nothing feels fixed or predictable. Pragmatic leaders can deal with the disruption by making quick decisions on how to use and implement AI, and when to set boundaries.

Economic and Political Uncertainty

Retrenchments, inflation rates, and the rise of right-wing parties have made for an unpredictable and worrying environment. And it can really weigh down on people and your team. A practical approach allows us to be focused on the present and make changes today instead of being overwhelmed by what is going on in the world or what the future holds.

Work Team and Culture

The modern workplace has changed. Today, people value flexibility and purpose-filled environments. Work-life balance for women has become more important. Pragmatic leaders can help create happier and healthier teams by actively addressing problems. They aim to understand concerns and adopt a problem-solving approach to find an effective solution.

Examples of Pragmatic Leaders

There is also a lot of inspiration that women can draw from some of today’s most inspiring leaders – from running countries to succeeding in male-dominated industries. These women have all been known to be pragmatic leaders because of their decision-making abilities and their ability to see and tackle problems.

Sheryl Sandberg

The former COO of Facebook, one of the most successful women in business, and founder of Lean In is known for her pragmatic approach to leadership. Sheryl adopted an inclusive approach to leadership, she recognized barriers and challenges and has acted to change them. Sheryl was also able to set clear goals for her team and was known to give flexibility to her team members. Ultimately, she was revolutionary in that she could identify what needed to change and could act and plan accordingly.

Maya Barra

Maya was the first woman to run a major global automaker, General Motors, and is a great example of how women can lead in male-dominated industries. She was known for her optimistic and hands-on approach. She encouraged people to speak up, didn’t make assumptions about her employee’s goals and motivations, and was revered for her group mentoring strategy.

Jacinda Ardern

Former New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, was a loved leader who was known for her pragmatic and empathetic approach.

During the COVID pandemic, she swiftly introduced strict policies to keep the citizens of New Zealand safe. Again, after a Christ Church Shooting, she introduced stricter gun laws. Her decisions were based on facts, were rooted in the present, and were widely respected by people as she had their best intentions at heart.

It is Time for Women to Lead The Way

Pragmatic leadership is inspirational because of its emphasis on action. You lead by example and these actions can positively affect your team and organization. An approach that is rooted in action, realism, and goals is a great way to succeed in 2024 and beyond.

So while visionary leadership is a good approach, to grow a business to introduce iterative changes, a pragmatic approach might be your best bet. Do you agree?