A leader who leads.

What is a leader? A definition can be one who guides or leads or one who has followers.Amazing when we hear the word "leader" so many words come up . Charisma,intelligence,iron-will,fortitude,character,integrity,visionary are some of the key words we hear when the topic of leader comes up.The thing is a leader does not have to be posses any of these qualities.A positive leader who takes us closer to our perceived utopia may have these qualities but generally a leader doesn't.

Politicians are described as leaders and they are.They are leading people so they can get closer to their agendas.How else can one reach their destination by riding on other people's back?Jim Jones in Guyana was a leader he had followers.Gang bangers have leaders they call them OGs.The Mafia has its "capo di tutti capi" -boss of all bosses.Gandhi was a leader.Martin Luther King led the civil rights movement.Right here in the Bahamas Sir L.O. Pindling led the black masses. So what or rather who is a leader?

I like Napoleon's description of a leader.The former Emperor of France said -" A leader is a dealer in hope".All our great leaders have had their faults and have made many mistakes while leading.Many of them were not cultured ,refined or even highly educated.Why I mentioned the notorious leaders with the great ones to prove a point.The key quality that any leader must have is the ability to give people hope.Real or imagined.Winston Churchill was often described as not being a very good politician but he was a purveyor of hope for the British during World War 2.As the Nazi war machine descended upon England he gave the people hope that they would endure and they did.He led them towards his vision.

A dealer in hope need not be from the best bred families.He or she may not even be leading you to a good place. You follow because you have been taken in by their vision and you hope to see the promise land.His vision could be warped and perverted as well as it could be grand and ideal.A leader is not born, a leader is created.Created by his willingness to lead and honing his skills in getting people to follow.A leader can become a leader by a course of events but he has to dish up enough hope to make people believe that the events will end with his prescribed results.

Be careful who or what you follow you might end up in a place where you might not want to be!