If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.” – Henry Ford
Leaders need to listen to those they lead and those they want to influence, but as their greatest task is to take people beyond the reality and even the imagination of those they seek to lead, they often must choose another path. There are two ways to please people: 1) give them what they say they want or 2) give them what they’d want if they knew enough to want it. The best leaders are not confined by “what is,” they envision what could be and create a better reality.