Searching vs Moulding Consensus

"A genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus but a moulder of consensus" - Martin Luther King Jr.

Our politicians fail us. No, not because they 'play politics.' It is because they are not leaders.

Politicians reflect the will of the people. Due to our modern liberal approach, it is believed that the individual voter knows best. That the customer is always right.

But is the customer always right? Do the people know what's best? Does the voter have perfect information?

Henry Ford said, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."

Steve Jobs commented, "“It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them.”

Can we imagine if Martin Luther King Jr. had left his civil rights fight to a democratic vote? Asking the American people what they would like to see?

Leaders do not reflect the will of the people. Leaders take bold action to change the will of the people. They guide the thinking and evolve their ideas through collaboration and co-creation.

Leaders do not search for consensus. They create consensus by moulding, educating, and nurturing ideas with their people. Innovators, original thinkers, and shakers introduce radical ideas to push our world forward.

It takes boldness to lead. It takes emotional rigour. And most of all it takes resiliency.

“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must first turn his back on the crowd. - James Crook