On this occasion celebrating the Independence of the United States of America, I can’t help but reflect on the leadership that got us here. Deciding to gain independence was a huge act of leadership. The implications for today’s leaders, both in business or non-profits or governments, is to distinguish between when real leadership means asking what people want versus making decisions and acting in people’s best interests. I recently heard a quote that speaks to this question of do we give people what they want? As Henry Ford once said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
