Ep. 137: Intentional, Visionary Leadership IS Pragmatic and Practical!

The Joyous Justice Podcast

Join recently-ordained Kohenet April Nichole Baskin in a captivating examination and reconsideration of what often gets classified as "pragmatic" or "practical." April delves into the transformative power of mindfulness about language and advocates for a reframe, or at the least, thoughtful consideration of what we label as "pragmatic" and "practical." She asserts that visionary, strategic thinking and action that challenges conventional mindsets can, in fact, be some of the most pragmatic and practical thinking and actions we can employ.
This episode is a vibrant blend of personal anecdotes and visionary insights, culminating in a powerful call to, when necessary, intervene when brilliant insights and strategies are being shut down or ignored because they were (in)directly labeled as impractical. Instead, as allies and practitioners, we can bridge communication gaps and embrace and pilot innovative, effective, and joyously just strategies.
Key Takeaways:

1. Redefining Pragmatism: Understand how pragmatic thinking is often misinterpreted, and learn to distinguish it from default or fear-based thought patterns.
2. Challenges of a Visionary Woman of Color: Hear April's experiences and the distinct challenges she's faced in promoting forward-thinking ideas in organizational settings.
3. The Limiting Power of Language: Explore how language can both confine and liberate our thinking, impacting our ability to embrace innovative strategies.
4. The Visionary's Approach: Learn the importance of transcending conventional thinking to adopt more visionary and intentional actions.
5. Joyous Justice – Pragmatism Meets Vision: Discover how Joyous Justice programming blends practicality with strategic and visionary thinking.
6. Strategic Thinking vs. Practicality: Understand why it's crucial to prioritize strategic thinking over mere practicality, especially when exploring new possibilities.
7. Bridging Understanding Gaps: Emphasize the need for improved communication and collaboration to effectively bridge gaps in understanding.