Should a leader be a Visionary or a Realist? - By Abhi Raheja

"The Pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. "

Albert Einstein

A leader is one Who knows the way, Goes the way, and shows the way. An idealistic Leader is :-

- Honest
- Has an ability to delegate, that means he has the capability of identifying the potential in his team and capitilizes on them.
- Is able to communicate, that means he is successful in convincing his team for his Vision.
- Has a great sense of humour.
- Is committed towards his team's goalss.
- Most Importantly, He is Confident.

In the literal sense, Realism is Defined as an "Interest in or concern for the Actual or real or the tendency to view or represent things as they really are."

Robert F. Kennedy once said - " Some men see things the way the are and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not? "


The first part of the statement is how a realist might think. The Second part is the idealism of a leader. It demonstrated confidence.

Now, We come onto  - Should a leader be a visionary or a realist?

On One hand, we've got a visionary leader and on the other we've got a realist.

A leader carrying a futuristic vision will be able to motivate his teammates and give them the assurance of things settling down at the earliest.

While

A realist leader will help you face the harsh reality as well as the facts without Giving you any false hopes.

Also

A visionary Leader will tell you about what plans and visions he has for the future so as to bring success for the institution where as a realist leader will tell you the reality about the present and what all need to be done for the future instead of giving false hopes thus bridging the gap between current and future reality.

A realist leader has the potential in himself to redeem from the past and work for the present.


A Realist leader Always talks about the Present and tries emphasising on the better present so as to make a better future.

All in all a realist Leader will prove to be a better leader than a leader who only has visions for the working of an institution.

Yet, A leader has to be practical and a realist, however must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist.