We Value Insight and Progress More Than Being Right: Embrace Reality

In this series, we are covering how Bonial came to a turning point after some successful years and how that changed our leadership approach and defined our principles. This is the introduction to our third principle.

Our third principle is Embrace Reality. In previous posts, we talked about how we value the power and the potential of each individual. This principle focuses on how external forces have an impact on us and how we think, act, and interact.

Reality might sound like a subjective matter, but the truth is that there is one reality out there. We need to find the easiest, fastest, and most pragmatic way to deal with this reality. Different people might perceive reality in different ways and react differently, but the reality is unique.

For instance, the COVID-19 global crisis is a reality. Some people take it seriously, follow the health measures, keep quarantine, try to change either consumer habits, and so on. Other people deny the existence of the virus, refuse to wear a mask, and claim that this is a plan from governments to control people. Despite the different ways people are reacting to this crisis, the reality is that there is a global crisis, businesses are going through a hard time, people are losing their jobs, people are dying and ultimately, the world is in an extreme situation.

By embracing reality we speak the truth, accept the truth, and are very honest with each other. We expose ourselves to reality as much as possible, because this is the fastest way to success. It is important to seek alternative perspectives and to be extra honest with ourselves. It requires letting go of emotions and using data to inform our decisions.

Transparency and open communication play a big role in embracing reality. We must do our homework: speak the truth — always, let reality be the judge, and fight the bullshit. Some of the competencies for this principle are attention to detail, candid, analytical skills, and adaptability. Doing what’s rights vs doing what’s easy.

A perfect illustration for embracing reality is Spock, from Star Trek. Spock is the son of a Vulcan and his human wife. In his childhood, given his Vulcan-human origin, Spock was bullied by Vulcano kids, so he took a test of courage in which he was asked to choose for the rest of his life one of the two cultures that had marked his birth, and he adopted the Vulcan culture. Despite the fact that Spock identified himself as Vulcan, he suffers an internal conflict between the reason and logic of his Vulcan half and the emotion and intuition of his human other half. By human canons, however, he is undoubtedly logical and extremely apathetic in dealing with danger.

Spock had no filter and always spoke up his mind. He was able to bring a realistic approach to each situation always based on logic. Sometimes this would lead to funny or even awkward moments. His older half-brother, Sybok, was banished from Vulcan because he rejected the way of pure logic. While Spock really knew how to put his emotions aside when needed.

Are you embracing reality in your own context?

When making decisions, do you look for relevant data that will support you?

What is the most difficult part of being logical?

Author: Victor Boscatt, Employer Branding Manager at Bonial