Leaders Are Created By Pressure Placed On Them

In 1988 Nelson Mandela was still in South Africa's apartheid prison system, where he had been incarcerated for a quarter of a century. He would turn 70 that July and his friend, the doughty president of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, C.R., had suggested that the world should celebrate this birthday. Many young people started pilgrimages from various parts of the United Kingdom, and they converged on Hyde Park Corner in London on Nelson's birthday. The crowd that gathered to celebrate this prisoner's birthday was about a quarter million strong, mostly youngsters who had not even been born when Mandela went to prison. And yet here they were gathered to honor this prisoner as if he were a pop star. Why?

Also, Mother Teresa had visited South Africa, and again the crowds that went to hear her at various venues were amazingly large. What was such frenzy with her?

Leader is the one with ability to lead. But what makes one man a leader? Leader and leadership are two words which are simply expressed in the dictionary as a noun and adjective. Where the former is a human being, the latter is a quality. Leadership is needed for making a leader; still the question remains as to who and what makes a Leader. Leadership as a quality may be more innate than acquired, but some qualities and characteristics can be identified and consciously brought to bear during complex and difficult times like the present. The history has witnessed varied personalities who were Leaders, be it the Gandhi or Nelson Mandela or even Hitler, who had a genre following his words and acting to his obedience. What made them leader was their philosophy which was strong to strengthen their voice. Everyone expresses their opinion; everyone raises their voice. However, the one who has a strong eloquence, clear thought and an innovative concept is chosen to guide the others, to represent the class of people with the same ideologies. This brings out an essential factor of leader- REPRESENTATION. If the need of representation is taken as the primary reason of leader, then it would be correct to say that they are created by the demand placed on them by the people. However, even if the representation factor is put behind, the truth that he is created by the pressure placed on them can not be denied.

Leader as a quality may be more innate than acquired. Even there is not a crisis around a man, he would voice his opinion. A man with an innate leadership quality would want to think ahead, progressively; innovate a better means of living. He thinks of concepts even at peace and thereby gives a new meaning to the world. At times of conflict, he brings the people together and moves them to higher grounds of living and achievements. He has the courage to stand against any power to his own words and ideologies. He does have the pressure on him, from his own conscience which has great expectations from himself.

The concept of leadership cannot be taught; it can only be inspired from the precedents. He has to gain trust of everyone around. He has to have the courage and patience, not just to look for immediate gains but for the maximum good of the cause he fights for. He has to be selfless to begin with; needs to be ready to sacrifice him to honour the cause he is fighting for. He needs to be eloquent; clear in his expression that he is understood properly. When all these innate characters are present in one person, it is obvious that he would carry a more responsible than his fellow mates. That brings another aspect of leadership- that is, the sense of RESPONSIBILITY- responsibility not just for his actions, but also of the words and ideologies. When such a strong virtue is attached to one man, there would be equally strong demand on him.

Let us look around our own surrounding. The purpose of leadership, which is more often than not, associated with the political sphere, is omnipresent among many of us. The student who has the courage to stand against his teacher, who is not doing his duty properly, is a leader. The man on the street who rushes the first to the accident scene and offers help to save more aggression of wound is a leader. The bishop in the church who helps people reconcile with their lives, is a leader.